Crackdown to drive crooked cabbies out of the industry
Taxi drivers who overcharge passengers, refuse short trips or don’t use the pay meter are at risk of being chucked out of the industry.
Dubbed the ‘two strikes and you’re out’ laws, the NSW government will give the dodgy cabbies one chance to flout rules before banning them altogether if found guilty a second time.
About 900 drivers have been hit with fines for those offences in the past two years, with more than 2500 passengers getting refunds for being overcharged.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.Other examples of bad taxi driver behaviours include trying to negotiate a fare that is not displayed on the meter, adding an extra surcharge or pinging passengers a maxi-taxi tariff if there are fewer than five people in the car.
Drivers who have previously breached the rules will be told they are on their final warning before the crackdown starts on December 6.
Transport Minister Jo Haylen said the rules would come in just in time for holiday period.
“This is a really busy time for the taxi and rideshare industries … Christmas parties are starting to kick off, people will be starting to come home through the airport, and then there are people rushing around for those last-minute gifts,” she said.
“We’re sending a strong message to the minority of rogue drivers that if they continue overcharging, not using the meter or refusing fares they now risk being kicked out of the industry.”
