A Bangkok tuk-tuk driver who demanded 4,000 baht (US$120) from two tourists for a ride from The Weeknd's concert has been fined after posting a video of the dispute online.
The driver picked the pair up at Rajamangala National Stadium after the show and asked for 4,000 baht when they reached their hotel on Sukhumvit Soi 4, Khaosod English reported, citing the video.
The tourists paid 400 baht, saying the fare was too high for a journey of about 15 minutes. They refused to pay more even after he cut his price to 2,000 baht.
The driver said he had charged extra because he picked them up at the concert venue, and estimated the distance at about 15 kilometers.
The pair called him a scammer and walked to the hotel lift as he followed them inside, filming and demanding payment, The Thaiger reported.
Police at Hua Mak station later summoned the driver, TNews reported. According to the police account, the incident began at the stadium at around 11 p.m. on Oct. 12, and the passengers were two Russian tourists.
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A passenger’s view from a tuk-tuk at night in Bangkok. Illustration photo by Unsplash/Joshua Rawson-Harris |
The Oct. 12 show was the second of three nights booked for The Weeknd's After Hours Til Dawn Tour at Rajamangala, which Time Out Bangkok describes as Thailand's biggest sports venue by capacity.
The driver admitted to officers that he had asked for 4,000 baht but said he received only 400 baht, police said. He could not show officers a public vehicle driving license when asked.
Police fined him under the Motor Vehicle Act for charging more than the fare set by ministerial regulation and for driving a public vehicle without showing a license to officers. The amounts were not reported.
Police also asked the Department of Land Transport to summon the driver and the tuk-tuk's owner and consider further action.
Many online commenters criticized the driver, saying such incidents could damage Thailand's reputation among foreign visitors. Others defended him, pointing to severe congestion around the stadium after the concert.
Tuk-tuks in Thailand do not use a distance-based meter. A 15-kilometer ride typically costs between 250 to 500 baht after negotiation, though drivers often initially quote 600 to 1,000 baht, according to travel and social media platforms.