The Phuket authorities are not going to slow down in the fight against illegal taxi drivers who continue to violate the laws, creating inconvenience and danger to passengers. In April, new checks are planned at road checkpoints, during which “black taxi drivers” who do not have permission to transport passengers will be identified.
Despite tougher crackdowns on unlicensed taxi drivers, foreign drivers remain outside the law and forced to hide from the authorities in order to continue their activities. This situation creates a number of problems, including the need to instruct passengers on how to proceed properly during the check.
Registering as a taxi driver in Phuket is a difficult task, and this applies not only to foreign nationals, but also to Thais. The system of registration and issuance of licenses needs to be improved to allow a wider range of people to operate legal taxis on the island.
At the last meeting, it was emphasized that the fight against illegal taxi drivers must be carried out strictly and promptly. However, it should be borne in mind that such measures should not be punitive and legal taxi drivers should be allowed to continue their activities without hindrance.
In general, the situation with illegal taxi drivers in Phuket remains relevant and requires comprehensive solutions, including an improvement in the system of registration and issuance of licenses, as well as more effective measures to combat "black taxi drivers".
