UPDATE: Bangkok taxi driver pulls out knife on Singaporean tourists

UPDATE: Police punish Bangkok taxi driver who intimidated Singaporean tourists

The Bangkok taxi driver who intimidated two Singaporean tourists has been ordered to pay 3,000 baht in fines, had his driving license suspended for three months, and must attend a three-hour training course about taxi rules and regulations in Thailand.

Thailand’s Department of Land Transport and officers from Suvarnabhumi Airport Police Station investigated the events captured on video by two Singaporean tourists on July 11 and found that the taxi driver, Thawin Chong-ngam, committed several offences according to the Land Transport Act of 1979.

Police fined Thawin 2,000 baht for not using the taxi meter and for behaving disrespectfully towards passengers. Thawin was also fined 1,000 baht for carrying a knife without justifiable reason.

The driver had all 100 points deducted from his driving license, causing it to be suspended for 90 days. He must also attend a three-hour training course on taxi rules and regulations.

SOURCE: Matichon

ORIGINAL STORY: Bangkok taxi driver pulls out a knife on Singaporean tourists

Video evidence reveals a Bangkok taxi driver pulling a knife out from the pocket of the driver’s seat door to intimidate two Singaporean tourists, who had accused him of not giving them enough change.

Although Bangkok taxis are supposed to be metered, the tourists said they had agreed on a price of 400 baht for their journey to Suvarnabhumi airport. However, once they arrived at the airport the taxi driver gave them only 25 baht in change from a 500 baht note.

“What about the other 75 baht?” asked the tourists. “Highway, highway, highway,” replied the driver. “No highway!” insisted the tourists.

Whether the tourists took the “highway” (they mean tollway) or not, taxi drivers should ask their passengers whether they want to pay extra to take the toll road, and inform them of the charges. To get to the airport, you can choose a route without tolls, it just takes a little longer.

As the pair argued with the driver over the change, the driver can be seen reaching for a knife from the side door of his car…

“He’s got a f*cking knife! Police!”

Luckily, the traffic police stood nearby and helped to deescalate the incident. After almost five minutes of back and forth, the driver gave the tourists their change back.

The tourists were glad they got their money back but were still shaken by the taxi driver’s knife, so they filed a complaint at the airport’s tourist police station, assisted by the officer who helped get them their 75 baht back.

SOURCE: KhaoSod