Motorcycle taxi firms ordered to stop illegal services in Bangkok

BANGKOK, May 17 (TNA) - Two private-run motorcycle taxi firms, Grab Bike and the Uber Motor, have been ordered to stop services immediately for providing illegal motorcycle taxi services in Bangkok. Nunthapong Cherdchu, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Land Transport, under the Thai Ministry of Transport, along with representatives of the Royal Thai Army and the Metropolitan Police Bureau, told the two firms of the order on Tuesday, after they had been earlier warned of violating the Thai law. Representatives of the two companies were told that legally-registered motorcycle taxis in the capital had lodged complaints that drivers from the two companies had taken away their would-be customers. Nunthapong said the two firms were, thus, ordered to stop providing services immediately, or they would be dealt with stern legal punishment imposed by the Thai army-led National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), headed by Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-ocha. According to the senior official, drivers of legally-registered motorcycle taxis must have public transport driving licences and wear proper shirts, with violators to face a maximum fine of 4,000 baht. A total of 66 drivers from the two companies have been reportedly fined so far. (TNA)