Thailand's red taxis are taking the petty route to drive Uber and Grab out of town
Threatened by the entrance of Uber and Grab's ride-hailing service, some 200 drivers in tourist-friendly Chiang Mai, Thailand, have decided to band together to drive out the new threat.
The Bangkok Posthas reported that the drivers of the song taew-- the iconic red modified pickup trucks operated as mini buses -- are collectively photographing and reporting Uber and Grab drivers to the authorities.
SEE ALSO:Turtle living in wishing pond gets surgery after years of eating of coins left by touristsRide-sharing apps exist in a grey area in the country for now, as the government works out regulations around them.
But until they get the official blessing, ride-sharing drivers are subject to crackdowns and penalties.
The song taewdrivers said that they had already sent pictures of dozens of ride-sharing cars to the authorities, and regulators said that they have received pictures and information of more than 30 ride-sharing cars in the city.
Last week, the police conducted a sting operation in Chiang Mai to nab ride-sharing drivers. In this viral video, a transport official poses as a passenger hailing a Grab car, only to issue the driver a fine.
And yes, the tip-off came from song taewdrivers, according to Nation.
The country's Land Transport Department have also said that they are planning to ban Uber and Grab altogether.
Nanthapong Cherdchu, deputy director-general of Thailand's land transport regulator, was quoted by Nationsaying: "[Uber] is destroying the public transport system in the area."
An Uber spokesperson told us it will continue to work with authorities on a path to regulation. "We have been thrilled to see how both riders and driver partners have embraced ride-sharing in Chiang Mai. It remains a new concept to many in the city."
Mashablehas also reached out to Grab for more.
There are more than 2,800 red song taewin Chiang Mai, but their services have been described as substandard and expensive by Chiang Mai's residents.
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