Public transport operators are counting on the National Council for Peace and Order to thwart rampant extortion rackets in the industry, saying the junta's absolute power will make it easier to deal with the issue.
Driving change: Afdrol Thonsri and Sing Chuangram want ‘protection’ payments to end.
Bangkok taxi driver Nopparuj Fukittiwin, 42, said he trusted the junta's sweeping powers mean it would not get bogged down in red tape and could therefore move more quickly than a democratically-elected government.
However, he said the problems have persisted for a long time and will take time to solve.
Mr Nopparuj said people who appear to be unauthorised personnel show up to demand money from taxi drivers for entering Mo Chit bus station. The drivers do not know whether they are the station staff or not, he said.
Some taxi drivers turn off their meters and overcharge customers, he said.
“There are various areas where influential people are present, such as shopping malls and tourist districts. Some taxi drivers wait for tourists there and they do not use meters,” Mr Nopparuj said, adding that he would not dare look for customers around the areas as he could face trouble from the other drivers.
Junta chief Prayuth Chan-ocha has already ordered a crackdown on transport rackets and said he wanted to see results within one month.
Authorities are also expected to evaluate their operations every week. Laor Aiamkae, a 47-year-old motorcycle taxi driver serving the National Housing Authority in Klong Chan area for more than 20 years, said he had heard the NCPO was stiffening measures to deal with drivers who overcharge passengers.
“The NCPO may be able to handle the issue if it wants. But if that involves lowering the fare, we may not be able to live with it,” Mr Laor said.
Of the average of 500-600 baht earned per day by Mr Laor, 300 baht goes toward petrol. Each driver also has to pay 400 baht per month to certain law enforcement officers for “protection”.
If protection money did not have to be paid, fares could be lowered, he said.
Sing Chuangram, a 61-year-old driver of a Chatuchak-Min Buri public van, said he has to pay 120 baht per day in protection money to people in uniforms to use a parking spot in front of the busy CentralPlaza Lardprao shopping mall.
Afdrol Thonsri, a 41-year-old driver of Bus No 191, said the junta would be able to weed out extortion in the public transport sector if it was serious about it. The NCPO also has more decisive power than the civilian government, he said.
“It would be great if the law enforcement was strictly carried out,” the driver, who has 22 years of bus driving experience, said.
“In the past, those who seized power only wanted to form governments, but the NCPO now wants to settle issues that are left untackled,” he said.
Mr Afdrol also complained many taxis and vans park at bus stops, particularly in rush hours.