Fare play: Thai taxi driver slams cops for toll indulgence

A female taxi driver in Thailand criticized police officers for assisting two foreign tourists who refused to pay toll fees by covering the costs themselves.

The female driver posted a video on Facebook showing her argument with the police officers and the two foreign women passengers. In the video, she declined money from the police and insisted that the foreign passengers pay the toll fee.

In an interview with Channel 3 on February 29, the taxi driver explained that two foreign women had booked a ride from Soi Song Prapa 1 to Ratchanatdaram Temple through a mobile app. She stated that she had offered the passengers two options: one route with a toll fee and one without. The passengers chose the toll route.

According to the driver, she informed the passengers that the transportation fee from the app was 326 baht and that they would need to pay an additional toll fee. The passengers reportedly agreed, and the journey commenced. However, upon reaching the destination, the foreigners refused to pay the toll fee.

The driver claimed that the two foreign women fled from her car to avoid payment. She pursued them and asked people in the area to contact the police.

Upon the officers’ arrival, the driver declined their offer to cover the toll fee, arguing that it was inappropriate. She contended that police assistance would encourage foreign tourists to repeat such behavior and wanted the foreign women to understand the Thai transport system.

The Superintendent of the Samranrat Police Station, Thossapon Ampaipipatkul, weighed in on the matter, suggesting that the misunderstanding arose from the language barrier rather than intentional refusal to pay. He agreed with the taxi driver that police should not cover toll fees for foreigners and criticized the officers involved. However, he acknowledged the officers’ desire to quickly resolve the issue to safeguard Thailand’s tourism reputation.

Thossapon encouraged Thai taxi drivers and app-based drivers to improve their language skills to provide better service to foreign visitors.

The taxi driver did not clarify whether she eventually accepted money from the police, and the police did not disclose whether they explained the toll and taxi systems to the foreigners.
Apologies for the interruption. Continuing from where we left off:

The resolution of the situation regarding payment to the taxi driver by the police and whether the foreigners received clarification on the toll and taxi systems remained unclear.

It’s essential for both taxi drivers and law enforcement to work together effectively to uphold the integrity of transportation systems and ensure fair treatment for all passengers, both domestic and international. Improving communication and language skills can play a crucial role in preventing misunderstandings and fostering a positive experience for tourists visiting Thailand.