Captain Pongjak Uraimarn from the Royal Thai Navy Third Area Command who is in charge of security operation at Phuket International Airport (PIA) held a meeting yesterday (Mar 16) with officials and metered taxi drivers at the NCOP office at PIA to remind the drivers about the rules and laws regarding operating public transport.
Captain Pongjak told the drivers that the law will be strictly enforced and that they will be punished if they disobey the law.
The meeting was held after a large number of tourists filed complaints with the central government and media stating that they were cheated by a metered taxi drivers.
The government want to keep public transport well organised and provide convenience for tourists, especially in tourist destinations such as Phuket so they are going to face a crackdown.
Captain Pongjak said, “Today officials from the NCPO airport office, Land Transport Office, PIA, Tourist Police, Phuket Provincial Police and metered taxi drivers signed an agreement stating that drivers at the airport must be organised and help promote the tourism image of the country.
“There are obligations that all public transport drivers must follow including dressing conservatively while on duty, dropping off tourists at the agreed place and avoiding detours and stopping for no reason, using the fare rate by setting the meter for every journey, chartering a taxi to one party is banned with no exception of time and place, and do not take drugs or alcohol while on duty,” he said.
“If drivers are found to break any of these terms they will face consequences. For instance, first offence will face a fine of B1,000 and licence suspended for seven days. Second offence and the driver will be not be allowed to operate at the airport and licence revoked,” he added.
“With regards to the complaints we have already received, officials are investigating the cases to find the drivers involved and they will be brought in for questioning ” Captain Pongjak concluded.