The drivers made their promise on December 31 as part of a campaign called “Taxi Jai Dee” (jai dee in Thai means kind, good hearted) initiated by the Royal Thai Police.
The campaign, which will finish at the end of the 2014 New Year holiday week, was launched at Bangkok Bus Terminal (Chatuchak) where deputy national police chief Ruangsak Jaritek signed a commitment with Julie Sawangarun, president of Taxi Thai, Hua Jai Inter Club, representatives from the Taxi Drivers Association of Thailand and Wutthichart Kalayanamitr, managing director of The Transport Co.
Pol Lt Gen Ruangsak said more than 2,000 jit arsa (volunteer) cab drivers had vowed they would not refuse service to passengers and would only charge fares on the meter for both local and foreign customers.
The campaign also calls for the participants to uphold quality services while doing their job, both during this New Year festival and at regular times.
Pol Lt Gen Ruangsak said the initiative was launched after many complaints from commuters about taxi drivers refusing service if they do not want to go to a specific place.
The jit arsa cabbies will be deployed at Mo Chit Bus Terminal, Southern Bus Terminal and Ekamai Bus Terminal.
He said he had instructed officers to strictly enforce the law and punish cabbies who refuse service or overcharge taxi fares. Under the 1979 Land Traffic Act's section 93, violators face a maximum fine of B1,000, 15 day-seizure of their driving licence and deduction of 20 driving-offence points.
The campaign's aim is to reduce public grievances while also being a New Year gift for commuters, he said.
In July 2012, a Thai man was severely beaten up by taxi drivers at Bangkok’s Makkasan Airport Link station when he took photos of a driver who refused to take him to his destination. Bangkok Post