Department of Land Transport (DLT) director-general Sanit Promwong said that if there is any complaint against Uber drivers, the committee tasked with keeping order in the public transport sector, comprising military officers, police and DLT officials, will arrest and fine drivers who operate without a public transport licence.

He said to crackdown Uber is one of the National Council for Peace and Order’s policies in an attempt to keep order in the public transport sector.

The warning came after a meeting between the Ministry of Transport, the DLT and representative of Uber on Monday resulted in the decision to look at the possibility of legalising Uber through the study. The study is expected to take between six and 12 months.

In the meeting, authorities requested that Uber suspend its service nationwide until the result of the study is known but the California-based company rejected the request.

Transport deputy permanent secretary Somsak Hommoung said if Uber refused to suspend its service while the study was being conducted it would make further talks between Uber and authorities, set for the next one or two months, more complicated.

At the meeting on Monday, Uber urged the government to amend the existing Motor Vehicle Act to allow ridesharing in Thailand.

Somsak said an amendment to the existing law will be made if the study shows that Uber taxi is suitable or beneficial to society.

Amy Kunrojpanya, director of policy and communications for Uber in Asia Pacific, said the study is a good start to solving the problem, as Uber currently takes care of hundreds of thousands of passengers.

“Uber is pleased that the government agreed to conducting independent third party research into ridesharing regulations and the benefits they bring to Thailand, as they have in so many other countries in the region,” Amy said.

“We remain committed to our mission of providing reliable transportation for everyone and will continue to serve Thai riders, drivers and cities.”

Monday’s meeting was held after the DLT stepped up the crackdown on Uber drivers on the grounds that they were violating the law by using non-registered vehicles as taxis.