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The limits of the new yellow-top tuk-tuks in Phuket City

Yellow Top Tuk-Tuks Fined for Straying

Monday, August 10, 2015
PHUKET: The first yellow-top tuk-tuks have already been fined for taking customers from Phuket City to Patong and will lose their registration on a second offence, a meeting heard today.

A total of 87 yellow-top vehicles may eventually be allowed to operate in the specified Phuket City area using the non-negotiable standard fare of 30 baht per person, officials said.

So far five yellow-tops had taken to the roads with 25 more now approved. They were all the Suzuki brand, a meeting of about 60 drivers was told at the Transport Department HQ in Phuket City.

Other vehicles may be required to undertake modifications that could cost 20,000 to 30,000 baht, the meeting heard. Drivers at the meeting accepted the cost.

Two vehicles have already been pulled over in Patong and the drivers each fined 5000 baht for exceeding the yellow-top boundary, the gathering was told.

A second offence will bring those drivers a 10,000 baht fine and suspension of their registration.

Using the once-illegal tuk-tuks only in Phuket City and only at the 30 baht fare is a compromise that appears to have been accepted by most of the drivers so far.

The drivers have another 180 days to complete registration.

Governor Nisit Jansomwong said that the service had the potential to fill the need for a low-cost service for tourists in the island's east coast capital.

Local residents are also expected to use the service, given the 30-baht per person set fare.

People who have problems with drivers are advised to call the 1584 universal complaints number or go to a police station.

Comments

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does anyone know the boundary markers?

Posted by another steve on August 10, 2015 19:11

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Since the authorities clearly consider a fare of Bt 30 per person to be sufficient to make a living, one has to wonder what is their excuse for not implementing the same fare island-wide ?

As far as I know, petrol is not 10 to 20x more expensive on the west coast or is it ?

Posted by Herbert on August 10, 2015 22:05

Editor Comment:

These are outlaw tuk-tuk drivers hoping to find a place in the system - in other words, people who can be told what to do. The others are vastly different.

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Good start.....

Posted by Mike on August 10, 2015 22:57

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@ Ed

Indeed different in more ways than can be said here.

Legality is highly debatable though. Side-entrance Tuk-Tuks are illegal but abundant on the west coast. They park illegally where they please and I would love to take a look at their tax records.

Has anyone ever been given a receipt for their tuk-tuk ride ?

I suspect the main difference is in who's behind the tuk-tuk operations.

Posted by Herbert on August 11, 2015 00:09

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So 40% of the new drivers have already been caught and fined. No great surprise from this lawless mob.

Taxis / tuktuks on Phuket continue to be a total disgrace, and these are the ones who can be controlled! God help us all!

Posted by Discover Thainess on August 11, 2015 05:12

Editor Comment:

I think if God had been willing to help you, he may have intervened before now, DT.

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Hang on.. Are we sure there are currently only 5 of these on the roads? I, first hand saw 4 in Karon on Friday, 2 of which were in a KT marked parking space. Maybe they were just parked up for a cup of tea? This would suggest there are next to NONE in Phuket town, and they have no intention of being there. I so hope they are fined and with vigor. Shame that will mean the concept is dead and buried so early on though.

Posted by Andy on August 11, 2015 09:55

Editor Comment:

Hardly a ''dead and buried'' concept with 87 tuk-tuks involved, Andy. Need more fingers and toes?

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Well, 30 baht to travel from Phuket Town to Patong sounds a bargain :)

Posted by Simon Luttrell on August 17, 2015 14:25


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