After numerous cases of cabbies harassing drivers for the GrabCar and Uber apps, which remain illegal in Thailand, the Department of Land Transport (DLT) has warned official taxi drivers not to threaten or confront suspected drivers for these services but to contact authorities to prosecute the drivers.
READ: Man accused of being Uber driver after giving ride to foreign friends
Cabbies have repeatedly harassed drivers—and those they suspect to be drivers for the services—yelling at them, surrounding them, and bullying them because they feel these drivers are stealing their customers.
However, Thais often complain that the traditional taxi drivers don’t want to pick them up or behave badly toward passengers and cite this as a reason the apps have become so popular.
A widely-shared cartoon from Thai Facebook page Contrast demonstrates one reason the apps have become so popular, because taxi drivers often tell you they don’t want to go to your destination.
READ: Pattaya taxi drivers force foreigners out of Uber car
The latest bullying report was of an incident at Chiang Mai Airport last week in which cabbies surrounded a Thai woman picking up a foreigner. They believed she was driving for one of the apps but, when officers questioned the woman later, they learned that the foreigner was simply a colleague she was providing a ride to, reported Bangkok Post.
READ: Another motorist becomes victim of Uber driver witch hunt
The cabbies apologized to her at the urging of DLT chief Sanit Phromwong.
Mid-week, Chiang Mai officials from the airport, police, military, and local DLT office met with taxi and van drivers to ask them not to bully drivers they suspect of working for the ride apps.
Instead, the professional drivers should collect identifying information and provide it to police, who can take legal action against the suspected drivers.
READ: Transport authorities vow to shut down Uber if necessary
Sanit added that cabbies that continue to harass suspected app drivers can be prosecuted themselves.
On Friday, taxi drivers in Bangkok held a short protest against ride apps Uber and Grab outside the Parliament House, located in Old Town.
Some of their signs read, “Thai taxi drivers don’t want foreign apps. No Uber!” and “Uber & GrabCar. Get out now!”
