The BTC ( Bangkok Taxi Cooperative) are currently testing a new meter

which if successful will be installed in all of it's taxis within the

next three months. The new meters feature a dual button fare system.

One button will have a red button with ฝรั่ง written on it in

Thai and the other will have a green button saying คนไทย.

When a ฝรั่ง passenger gets into the cab the driver will

press the appropriate button and the meter will show a base price of

250 baht, as well as this, the meter will automatically increase the

kilometer rate to 40 baht per kilometer plus 25 baht a minute waiting

time while the taxi is stationary in Bangkok traffic. When a

คนไทย uses the same taxi the driver presses the green button

and the meter will show the normal 35 baht base charge and the current

kilometer rate remains unchanged. Khun Wirot of The Bangkok

Cooperative said in an interview today that this is a long overdue

development as most Farangs here pay no tax, contribute nothing to the

country and are not entitled to Thai prices. Moreover Khun Wirot said

that many farangs in Thailand don't seem to mind being charged extra

for services, many of them here preferring to pay up to 10 times more

than Thai people for the same services and that many of them actually

defend this practice using all sorts of statements which he laughingly

admitted make no sense to him whatever, However the BTC will happily

take their money. Khun Wirot added that if the system is a success,

and he sees no reason why it shouldn't be, he expects similar systems

to be in place in all of Bangkok's many taxi company's fleets within

six months. Khun Wirot added that this will actually be a benefit to

Farangs here as it will price local taxi fares closer to prices charged

in many of their home countries, making them feel more at home. The BTC

now intends to monitor overseas taxi fares on a regular basis and the

red button charges will be adjusted accordingly.

 

When Khun Wirot was pressed on the issue of self satisfied smug farangs

working here holding work permits and paying taxes etc having to pay

the "red button" fares, he said if they can produce a valid Thai ID

card or a copy of their work permit and their passport with a valid

visa, last years tax return, or a copy of a marriage certificate,

citizenship papers or such, the driver will probably still press the

red button.

 

Khun Wirot said that they were working on a third button to charge sissy guys an additional 50 Baht start price.

 

Whew on topic !!

is this a joke?

is this a joke?

 

 

I guess it is... Not sure what is this all about..