UPDATE
On Wednesday, the third day of the campaign, it was reported that as many as 194 Phuket taxi drivers had been fined and warned for infringements.
Original Report
PHUKET: A special team of officers from the Land Transport Office in Bangkok has imposed fines of up to 2000 baht on 104 taxi drivers on Phuket during a raid so far this week.
The team of 12 is continuing to operate at a checkpoint on Phuket today - Phuketwan knows the location but we're not revealing it.
The fines early this week came at Karon, Cherng Talay and Phuket International Airport.
More fines are expected to be imposed before the unit wraps up its first visit and heads back to Bangkok after Friday.
The team began its operations on Monday and in two days imposed fines relating to the new taxi regulations on 104 drivers.
Fifty-nine drivers paid fines of up to 2000 baht for not registering.
Another 45 drivers were fined 500 baht for not carrying out aspects of the new rules, which require specific signage on the signs of vehicles and driver ID inside.
''There drivers were also given a first warning,'' a spokesperson said. ''The drivers have been told that if they incur two more warnings, they will no longer be able to operate as taxi drivers.''
The special number for complaints and for calling taxis is 1584.
Before all of the skeptics and naysayers weigh in with the usual barrage of cynicism and snarkiness, I would like to commend the government and the police for taking a step in the right direction. Well done, I say.
Posted by Matt on October 24, 2012 15:24