Local taxi drivers have declared war on Uber and have recruited police to help them in controlling the spread of the ride-sharing service in Pattaya.
Police took a complaint April 25 from a group of cab drivers about a suspected Uber X driver with a black Mitsubishi Pajero. The Bangkok-registered vehicle picked up Chinese tourists at Soi 7 and Beach Road.
Police and drivers then followed the private driver, who soon picked up the badly disguised tail. He tried to flee, but was forced to pull over on Soi Photisan in North Pattaya.
Driver Somchai Sriboonroeng admitted he was transporting two Chinese women to the Pattaya Elephant Village after they hailed his ride via the smartphone app.
Supachai Puengprapha of Taxi Cooperative Development Co. said he was waiting to pick up customers at Soi 7 when he noticed the car with an Uber sign on it. As Uber X is technically illegal in Thailand, he decided to act against it.
The driver was fined 2,000 baht for violating the Motor Vehicle Act for using the Pajero, which is not authorized to provide taxi service.
Uber, ubiquitous in Bangkok and in nearly 200 countries around the world, moved into Pattaya in February, much to the applause and relief of commuters tired of being ripped off by local taxi, songthaew and motorcycle drivers.
Metered-cab drivers in March complained they were unable to make a living if they were forced to charge rates set by the Department of Land Transport. Thus, they often overcharged by as much as 300 percent.
A typical fare quoted by cabs from Central Festival to the Pattaya Bus Station is 300 baht. Uber X, the budget arm of Uber Technologies Corp.’s ride-sharing service, charges 115 baht.
Uber X, however, has been declared illegal by the Land Transport Department and its drivers are subject to heavy fines. Enforcement, however, is minimal and the only drivers caught are ones who advertise their illegal service their car windows or are singled out by competitors.
Uber’s main luxury-car service, not available in Pattaya, complies with existing Thai law as it uses commercially registered vehicles.
