BANGKOK, 8 July 2014 – Motorcycle taxi drivers voioced support on Monday for the National Council for Peace and Order’s (NCPO) measures to stamp out illegal extortion of motorcycle taxis.
Under the NCPO’s measure, the drivers’ vests will be re-issued to prevent them from being traded. To obtain the new vests, the drivers will need to register their motorcycle license plates with the issuing authority.
Mr. Chai Thoramiphak, a motorcycle taxi driver in the Huai Khwang area, viewed the new measure favorably and also expressed his belief that the NCPO would be able to successfully resolve the issue of influential figures extorting money from the drivers. However, he noted that the problem must be sustainably tackled. He explained that previously, unregistered drivers under the control of influential figures often cut in front of his cue to pick up passengers. These drivers also charged excessive fees, resulting in some of the passengers electing to forgo motorcycle taxis in favor of other travel methods.
Those who would like to obtain a motorcycle taxi vest may register until Wednesday.
