Major General Popanan Luengpanuwat, head of the Junta's National Council for Peace and Order in Chon Buri, called a
meeting on Thursday in a bid to tackle the issue of Pattaya taxi drivers taking advantage of tourists.
There had been complaints, including from foreigners, about drivers refusing to use the taxi meter and charging large amounts for short distances, he told the meeting at Pattaya City Hall. In fact nobody has ever heard of anybody who has ever come
across a Pattaya taxi using its meter.
Representatives of three Pattaya taxi companies, with a total of 500 cabs, explained that the starting price - Bt40 for the first 2km - was not enough for cabbies to cope with high living costs. Private taxis waiting near my house charge 200 Baht
for short trips, 5 times the official fare.
Popanan said he would call another meeting on July 26 at the Bang Lamung district office for all taxi operators for their cooperation to adhere to the law.
Popanan also assigned the Chon Buri Land Transport Office to ask for permission to hike the minimum fare to Bt100 for the first 2km, like on Koh Samui.
Pattaya'a authorities have announced, much to the surprise of baht bus drivers, expats and tourists that standing in the baht bus or on the back of the baht bus will be banned from now on.
People who violate this law can be charged up to 3000 baht.
The reason for banning standing on the back of baht busses has been stated that many people have fallen off over the years, generally when intoxicated, and injured themselves seriously. Removing the back standing areas of baht busses is also being
looked at.
It is stated that this ban has taken place immediately and police have begun fining people standing on the back. The Pattaya news can confirm that several reports of tourists being told to pay a 3000 baht fine for standing on the back have
happened.
Comment: Will they back off?
10th July 2018. From Dave
You can't stand on the the back of a Songtheaw now, what's going on? If this is a safety drive ,why don't they check Baht Bus Drivers for Licences and their Vehicles for road worthiness.
I saw 3 Thai's stopped last week for 3 up on Scooter with no Helmets. If we ever get rid of the Army, will life go back to normal or will Police activity continue?
Packing sardines
Baht bus
The other week I turned up at Second Road with 2 Bags of Shopping, the only space on the Bus was on the back in the middle.
The driver told me to get on but I said I couldn't stand on the back of the Bus with 2 Bags of Shopping. He said... you'll have to walk then, the next bus is for private hire or pay 300b.
The next Bus backed up and I went to get on but the Driver stopped me and said I had to walk, his bus was for private hire, a few seconds later a little old Thai lady got on and sat down, I said...is this your Private Hire. The driver said ...it
was his Bus and it was up to him who got on it.
Well I couldn't argue with that, but I'm like a Dog with a Bone. I said what's your Licence Number? he said me no speak English . Haha at this point about 20 Russians turned up ,so he drove off and the next Bus backed up and I got on
and we were soon following him,
But you have to be careful, if you get to cheeky he has all his mates there.
Eleven men and 14 women of various nationalities have fallen victim to a police raid late on Saturday night.
They were attending a swingers party at an unnamed hotel (the article included a name but this wasn't correct) off Pratamnak Soi 5. The tourist police went in mob handed with Bang Lamung district administrative officials with support from soldiers
from the 14th Military Circle.
The victims included American, Canadian, Chinese, Malaysian, Singapore, German, Thai, Cambodian, Indian and Ukrainian nationals. They were detained for further legal action.
Police said the party admission fee was 1,500 baht per person but it appears the party was for adult consensual couples and not attended by sex workers.
The hotel operator, a Chinese national, was arrested for violating the Hotel Act and illegally facilitating sexual activities.
Major General Popanan Luengpanuwat, head of the Junta's National Council for Peace and Order in Chon Buri, called a
meeting on Thursday in a bid to tackle the issue of Pattaya taxi drivers taking advantage of tourists.
Eleven men and 14 women of various nationalities have fallen victim to a police raid late on Saturday night.
