Dodgy NSW taxi drivers to be tracked in new state database

Taxi drivers who refuse fares or overcharge will be tracked on a new centralised database under a Minns government shake-up sparked by a Taylor Swift fan revolt.

Thousands of Taylor Swift fans were left stranded in Sydney by taxi drivers. Picture: NCA NewsWire

Taxi drivers who refuse fares or overcharge will be tracked on a new centralised database under a Minns government industry shake-up following the Taylor Swift fan revolt.

Tougher penalties will also be considered, with repeat offenders to be thrown out of the industry under measures designed to weed out rogue drivers.

The government will also conduct a review of the location of taxi ranks across the Sydney CBD with a view to moving drop-off and pick-up zones to safer sites, with exemptions for taxis in No Stopping areas also on the table.

The proposed new measures – to be unveiled by Transport Minister Jo Haylen at a two-day taxi industry state conference in Rooty Hill on Sunday – follow ongoing incidents of overcharging and fare refusal from passengers.

Last month, scores of Taylor Swift fans hit social media with personal stories of being overcharged or of taxi drivers not using a meter after the concert, prompting the NSW Point to Point Commissioner Anthony Wing to urge those affected to call the Taxi Fare Hotline.

The new database will track drivers who refuse fares or overcharge. Picture: Jeremy Piper

Under the government proposal, a centralised database will be established to help taxi service

providers to identify and regulate rogue drivers.

The Point to Point Transport Commissioner will work with the taxi industry to give the Driver Vehicle Database “teeth”.

The Commissioner will look at improving how checks are run on drivers, including fare related offences, as well as eligibility, driving offences and criminal charges.

Tougher penalties will be considered to crack down on repeat offenders, to ensure drivers who

continue to do the wrong thing can be thrown out of the industry.

The plight of Taylor Swift fans trying to get home shone a light on the issue. Picture: NCA NewsWire

“A minority of taxi drivers are choosing to do the wrong thing by failing to use the meter during a rank or hail trip, overcharging their passengers or refusing a fare,” Mr Wing said.

“My Compliance team of Authorised Officers continue to be out in force conducting plain clothes and highly visible operations.

“With more than 70 million safety checks on drivers and vehicles run through the centralised

database by industry in the last 12 months, it makes sense to expand it.”

Ms Haylen said an existing database in place was not comprehensive enough to capture and record the minority of drivers caught doing illegal activity such as overcharging and fare refusal, meaning they could potentially reoffend.

Transport Minister Jo Haylen is hoping the new database closes a loophole damaging the reputation of good drivers. Picture: NCA NewsWire

“Right now, there’s a loophole in the system that’s damaging the reputation of the taxi industry, unfairly impacting the majority of drivers who are doing the right thing and servicing our community,” she said.

The review of taxi ranks – to be undertaken by Transport for NSW with the City of Sydney, Mr Wing and industry stakeholders – would also benefit drivers with new taxi exemptions in No Stopping areas to also be established as part of the overhaul.

Welcoming the moves, NSW Taxi Council CEO Nick Abrahim said it only took one “bad apple” to tarnish the industry.

“We want people to have a great taxi experience in the CBD. After a night out, people should be talking about the great show they saw or the event they went to – not about a poor taxi experience,” he said.

“Unfortunately one bad apple can spoil the bunch – and we don’t want the reputation of the majority of hardworking taxi drivers brought down by the few doing the wrong thing. A streamlined database will mean service providers are better informed about the drivers they’re onboarding.”

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