Thai tuk-tuk driver suspended for overcharging tourists

By Hoang Vu May 20, 2024 | 10:54 pm PT

A tuk-tuk motorized rickshaw driver waits for his passenger in front of a shopping mall in Bangkok, Thailand. Photo by Reuters

A tuk-tuk driver in Thailand was slapped with a fine of 2,500 baht (US$70) and had his license suspended for three months for overcharging a group of four Japanese tourists in Bangkok.

The decision was made by Thailand’s Department of Land Transport late last week against the 29-year-old driver, who was also forced to attend a three-hour training session in drivers' manners, Bangkok Post reported.

According to the police, he charged the tourists a hefty 6,000 baht for a five-kilometer trip from Sukhumvit soi 18 to Thaniya Plaza on May 13.

Normally, the cost for a 5-km tuk-tuk ride in Thailand ranges 30-100 baht per person, according to tour operators.

One of the tourists posted the incident on social media.

The driver was summoned for questioning and admitted his violations to the police, claiming it was due to heavy rains, Thaiger reported.