The Land Transport Department (LTD) will hold talks with taxi drivers and operators today to finalise a proposed surcharge increase, Transport Minister Prajin Juntong says.
Larger taxis, such as vans and SUVs, want to increase the surcharge from 50 baht to 100 baht when they pick up passengers from Don Mueang and Suvarnabhumi airports.
They also want to be allowed to turn off the meter and negotiate fares for long-distance trips.
ACM Prajin plans to also discuss recent episodes of taxi drivers cheating their passengers.
The LTD is investigating two cases after video clips went viral showing passengers arguing with drivers about high cab fares.
One involves a Japanese businessman who was charged a 75-baht start-up fare, and the other involves a female Thai passenger who was charged 435 baht for a trip that usually costs her less than 180 baht.
In the first case, if the driver, identified as Udon Satsanapisut, is found guilty of overcharging, he will be slapped with a 5,000-baht fine and have his taxi driving licence revoked, said LTD deputy director-general Chirute Visalachitra.
Regarding the other case, Mr Chirute said it is likely the meter was tampered with. The woman was travelling from the Dusit area to Lian Duan Ramintra.
Even with the new fare rate in effect, the cab fare should not be that high.
When new taxi rates go into effect, passengers in Bangkok will pay an increased fare of about 8%.
Mr Chirute said the woman's driver, who was not named, could lose his public driving licence for good if he is found to have tampered with the meter.
A taxi driver who asked not to be named said yesterday some cabbies use two meters — one approved by the LTD and an illegal one that charges a high fare rate.
According to the driver, it takes just 10 seconds to swap out the devices, and drivers often switch to the illegal one when picking up passengers at bus terminals or van stands.
Asked about the claim, Mr Chirute said the department is unaware of such a practice and will send officials to investigate.