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Two Russian tourists were charged 4,000 baht (about US$120) for a tuk tuk ride across Bangkok on October 12, 2026. They paid 400 baht when they arrived. A video of the exchange spread online, police looked into it, and the driver was fined a total of 1,500 baht for overcharging and for not showing his driving licence. The Department of Land Transport is now looking at the case too.
What happened
Around 11pm on October 12, 2026, two Russian tourists, aged 31 and 34, took a tuk tuk near the Sports Authority of Thailand on Ramkhamhaeng Road. This is in Hua Mak subdistrict, Bang Kapi district, Bangkok. They were headed across the city to Sukhumvit Soi 4.
The driver, a 28-year-old named Piya (his surname was withheld), demanded 4,000 baht for the trip. The tourists paid 400 baht by bank transfer when they reached the destination.
How police got involved
A video of the exchange spread on social media and drew online criticism. Police began checking the case on October 16. Officers reported to their superiors and asked the driver to come in and explain.
Piya admitted to police that he had charged 4,000 baht and confirmed that the 400 baht transfer was made.
The charges and fines
Police also found a second problem: Piya could not show a driving licence during the check. He was charged with two offences, and Hua Mak Police Station settled both by fine.
| Offence | Fine |
|---|---|
| Collecting a fare above the rate set in ministerial regulations | 500 baht |
| Driving a public vehicle without showing a licence to officers | 1,000 baht |
| Total | 1,500 baht |
What happens next
Hua Mak police contacted the Department of Land Transport. The department is preparing to summon the vehicle's registered owner and Piya to explain the facts before deciding on further action.
What this means for travellers
- Overcharging is an offence. Charging above the regulated rate breaks the rules, and police act when a case gets attention. Here, a viral video prompted the response.
- The fine was small. The 500 baht fine for overcharging was about an eighth of the amount the driver demanded, so it is a weak deterrent.
- Paying a fair price was accepted. The tourists paid roughly a tenth of the demanded fare, and that was treated as the baseline.
- Agree on a price first. Tuk tuks are generally not metered. Settle the fare before you get in, insist on a meter, or use a ride-hailing app.
- Video helps. Video evidence and social media helped trigger enforcement in this case.
- The vehicle may face scrutiny. The driver also had no licence to show, so the vehicle and its owner may be looked at by the Department of Land Transport.
Information sourced from The Thaiger.