Taxi drivers must register or face fines

Taxi drivers must register or face fines

Taxi drivers are required to register at the Centre for Taxi Driver Information by July 15 or risk a fine, the Land Transport Department chief said yesterday.

Asdsathai Rattanadilok Na Phuket said the move followed a meeting with taxi operators working in the capital.

At the meeting it was agreed that 2,000 taxi operators and drivers in the city must submit background information to the centre by July 15. Violators will face a maximum fine of 1,000 baht, he said.

Mr Asdsathai said drivers' information will be placed in a database for relevant authorities to check if drivers are implicated in crimes or are involved in road accidents.

It will also be used when considering whether to withdraw the licences of traffic law violators.

The centre will make the information accessible by different units within the department.

Information required includes drivers' personal information, their work background, training and criminal records.

"It will serve as proof of identity for tracing drivers that commit crimes. We hope the registration will help to filter out bad drivers and reduce the number of road accidents," said Mr Asdsathai.

He urged passengers to look at drivers' lDs posted in all cabs because they display important information.

Meanwhile, a number of motorcycle taxi drivers yesterday went to register their services and set up a new queue at the Land Transport Department on the last day of registration under the NCPO’s directive to regulate public transport.

The regulation is aimed at putting an end to mafia-style extortion gangs controlling motorcycle taxis and making money by illegally leasing vest licences.

Luksana Rojthamrong, director of Ratchathewi district, said to set up a new motorcycle taxi queue, operators need to submit a map of the location, a photo of the parking area, a consent agreement if the queue is on private land and the names of drivers in the queue.

She said drivers who are 20 years old and do not hold a licence for public transportation will be granted a grace period that will allow them to obtain one.

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