PHUKET: Vehicles belonging to 13 illegal tuk-tuk and taxi drivers arrested last night are being impounded and will not be returned to the owners until after their trials have concluded.
Police and the military in Patong arrested the 13 drivers and seized their vehicles as a clamp on taxi transport in Patong went into effect yesterday evening, Patong traffic police chief Lieutenant Eakrat Plaidung said today.
''The message is going out that green-plate taxis are no longer to park in public spaces,'' he said.
''This means they will have to find private parking spots off the roads or park in the designated parking area at Tritrang with other green-plates and wait for resorts to call them in as required.''
Drivers held yesterday have had to pay 100,000 baht bail. They could face five years in jail and/or a fine of 100,000 baht.
Another 22 taxis and tuk-tuks were impounded at Phuket City Police Station in an earlier swoop on Patong in relation to a street blockade in March.
Police and the military in Patong arrested the 13 drivers and seized their vehicles as a clamp on taxi transport in Patong went into effect yesterday evening, Patong traffic police chief Lieutenant Eakrat Plaidung said today.
''The message is going out that green-plate taxis are no longer to park in public spaces,'' he said.
''This means they will have to find private parking spots off the roads or park in the designated parking area at Tritrang with other green-plates and wait for resorts to call them in as required.''
Drivers held yesterday have had to pay 100,000 baht bail. They could face five years in jail and/or a fine of 100,000 baht.
Another 22 taxis and tuk-tuks were impounded at Phuket City Police Station in an earlier swoop on Patong in relation to a street blockade in March.
Excellent ! Impounding the vehicles is a real threat and deterrent. Something that was painfully lacking from law enforcement for over a decade.
Posted by Herbert on September 9, 2014 16:48