In a formal complaint lodged with the Phuket Damrongtham Center (the Provincial Ombudsman’s Office) yesterday (June 30), groups representing registered public transport operators demanded immediate action against unlicensed vehicles operating via popular travel apps.
“These apps are allowing illegal vehicles to slip through the cracks, completely unchecked,” the groups said “They’re undermining the operators who follow the law and putting passenger safety at serious risk.”
The complaint, submitted at 1:30pm and received by Monchai Sae Lao, Director of the Phuket Damrongtham Center, with Phuket Land Transport Office (PLTO) officials also in attendance, outlined deep frustration over the unchecked spread of unregistered taxis that continue to operate freely via digital platforms.
The groups argued that the system is not only broken but dangerously skewed in favour of illegal operators, whose cut-rate services and lack of oversight pose a threat to both licensed drivers and the safety of the travelling public.
To address the problem, the groups proposed both immediate and long-term solutions, including:
* Offering cash rewards to members of the public who help identify and report illegal taxis.
* Expanding accessible channels for filing complaints.
* Publishing public transport vehicle registrations so passengers can verify a taxi’s legitimacy.
Significantly, the groups also demanded full transparency, pressing for authorities to openly list all licensed public transport vehicles and drivers ‒ a demand that directly challenges the PLTO’s long-standing refusal to publish even the names of taxi drivers convicted of violent offences, let alone those guilty of dangerous driving or other serious infractions.
Despite this push for transparency, officials have historically hidden behind policies that protect drivers’ identities, even in cases where passenger safety is at stake.
Nonetheless, Monday’s meeting was described as cordial, with all sides signalling a willingness to cooperate in pursuit of a fairer, safer transport system for Phuket.
An official report of the meeting yesterday made special mention that Phuket Governor Sophon Suwannarat had elevated the complaint to a matter of provincial policy.
Apparently Governor Sophon has forwarded the concerns to the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society for further action. The matter is also reportedly on the agenda for consideration at the Cabinet level.