Bangkok taxi driver fined 2,000 baht, license suspended for overcharging

The Land Transport Department fined a taxi driver Bt2,000 and suspended his driving license for 90 days on Tuesday for overcharging a Taiwanese passenger.

Kittipong, the driver, whose surname was not revealed, was summoned to meet the department’s transport inspection officials.

The driver confessed to the offence. He picked up a Taiwanese passenger from Impact Arena Muang Thong Thani in Nonthaburi province for a journey to Bangpho MRT Station.

The distance is 13 kilometres and the fare should have be about Bt160, but Kittipong refused to use the meter and demanded Bt2,000.

The passenger recorded the trip, the conversation, the driver’s improper uniform and posted it on TikTok. It went viral.

The video drew negative comments from netizens who criticised the driver for overcharging the passenger and for not wearing a taxi driver uniform.

If he repeats the offences, his driving license will be revoked.

The department urges the public who see any offence committed by taxi drivers to file complaints by calling 1584 and identifying the vehicle by its taxi registration plate.