The Land Transport Department is trying to locate a woman taxi driver after it slapped a fine on her for rude behaviour and forcing passengers to get out of her cab before they reached their destination.
Department director-general Sanith Phromwong said on Wednesday that the agency has alerted police and taxi networks to locate Phussadee Anchanpat and report to the department.
The hunt came after the department had checked that she was the cabbie in a video clip apparently posted by one of the passengers.
The clip posted by Yaowalak Chusri on her Facebook account on Tuesday showed the driver was in a heated argument with one of the passengers in the pink Toyota taxi. The sound in the clip showed there were another woman and a boy who was crying in the back seat.
After a emotion-charged exchange with the passengers, the driver finally pulled over her car and said: "Get out of my car. Get out, right now." She then sped off.
The department checked the clip and found that the taxi was operated by Sahamit Taxi Cooperative and the driver in the clip was Mrs Phussadee.
A background check found that her public driving licence had expired on Dec 29, 2015.
Although Mrs Phussadee has not been found, the department has decided to fine her 5,000 baht for dangerous driving, dropping passengers before the destination, rude behaviour and driving with an expired licence, Mr Sanith said. It was not the first time she had misbehaved, he added.
All taxi firms have been told not to allow her to rent a car, the official said.
The department also fined Sahamit Taxi 5,000 baht for failing to check drivers, according to the department chief.
Video clip from Yaowalak Chusri Facebook account