$1000 fines for dodgy Sydney cabbies caught turning off meters despite NSW crackdown

Dodgy taxi drivers ripping off passengers by refusing to use meters and quoting fixed fares now face harsh new fines, as a Daily Telegraph investigation spurs on a fed-up government.

Rogue cabbies breaking the rules by ordering passengers to pay fixed-fares will be hit with increased fines of up to $1000, after a Daily Telegraph investigation revealed widespread price-gouging in Sydney hot spots.

The NSW Government met with the NSW Taxi Council on Tuesday morning, where they backed the council’s chief executive Nick Abrahim’s call for fines to be increased from $300 to $1000 to crackdown on drivers doing the wrong thing.

Transport Minister Jo Haylen told parliament the increase in fines had been brought in because there was “more and more of these instances occurring”.

Ms Haylen said she had also instructed the Point to Point Commissioner — who has responsibility for cabs and Ubers – to step up enforcement using undercover officers, pointing to one instance where an officer took a cab ride which resulted in a fine to the cab driver after they locked the doors and demanded a $50 fixed price.

“Some of the examples of this behaviour are quite concerning … a permit officer, for example, hailed a cab in Pyrmont and asked to go to the Argyle Hotel, he said he had a cab charge … the driver said cab charge, no problem, (that’ll be) $50,” Ms Haylen said Tuesday.

People wait for cabs after being told the drivers won't go to nearby suburbs. Picture: Jeremy Piper

“And then in a really intimidatory and dangerous move, he (the taxi driver) locked the doors.

“The inspector asked him to turn on the metre, and (the driver) said ‘no, it’s 50 bucks’. He then got issued a fine of $300.”

Ms Haylen said the minority of cab drivers doing the wrong thing was hurting the reputation of Sydney as a “world class destination”.

“We’re going to make sure we get more compliance officers on the road, we’re going to improve driver training and also we’re going to make sure passengers know their rights,” she said.

Two men try to catch a cab after telling the Telegraph taxis were refusing to take people to nearby suburbs. Picture: Jeremy Piper

“These practices for passengers, they’ve hurt the good reputation of the majority of taxi drivers in the industry. They hurt the industry overall and they hurt the reputation of our city as a world class destination.”

“We’re going to make sure we get more compliance officers on the road, we’re going to improve driver training and also we’re going to make sure passengers know their rights,” she said.

She said higher fines were necessary because there was “more and more of these instances occurring”.

Opposition roads spokeswoman Natalie Ward said the increased fine did not go far enough and called on the government to suspend the driver’s licences of repeat offenders.

Taxi Council CEO Nick Abrahim, who had called for tougher fines for rogue operators, welcomed the move but said the government needed to go further.

“I don’t believe this is the only measure – I think tougher penalties will act as a deterrent … but for those thinking they want to overcharge or not use the meter, this will hopefully make them think twice,” he said.

EXISTING PUNISHMENTS NOT WORKING

Ms Haylen flagged the tougher penalties after a Daily Telegraph investigation found fixed-fare price gouging was rampant in the city.

She declared the punishments in place are “not currently working”.

The Telegraph revealed that just 10 per cent of reports to a dedicated driver complaints hotline set up in November had resulted in a fine being handed down.

“Clearly the system is not currently working and people are being ripped off. There are rogue taxi drivers out there who are negotiating a fixed fare. That’s not how things work in Sydney and New South Wales,” Ms Haylen said.

The increased fines for drivers who overcharge, demand fixed fares and refuse passengers were first floated by NSW Taxi Council chief executive Nick Abrahim.

Over the past six months since the government crackdown, only 168 fines have been issued for fare-related offences, including drivers refusing passengers who do not agree to a fixed non-metered fare.

Since a dedicated driver complaints hotline was established in November, the government watchdog received 1609 complaints – meaning only 10 per cent of complaints proceeded to a fine.

SHORT TRIPS REFUSED, NO METERS

The slap on the wrist approach had failed to curb widespread price gouging, with The Daily Telegraph witnessing five examples of cabbies refusing to turn on their meters or refusing passengers who want to take short trips, in just over an hour on Thursday night.

Between 10.22pm and 10.37pm, revellers in Barangaroo were repeatedly rejected by cab drivers at the King St Wharf cab rank who refused to take them to nearby suburbs or would demand an inflated flat rate.

Taxi drivers are required to display the correct fare using the meter according to Point to Point Transport (Taxi and Hire Vehicle) Regulations 2017.

Security guards from the Point-to-Point commissioner monitoring cab ranks in the CBD on Friday night. Picture: Jeremy Piper

When the Telegraph asked to be taken to Surry Hills, a flat rate of $30 was demanded by multiple cab drivers who refused to turn the meter on.

One driver who refused to turn the meter on and asked for the flat rate, later denied doing so while another said “it’s all flat rates now, catch another cab then”.

Another also refused to put the meter on and wanted to negotiate a fixed rate.

The situation was similarly dire on George St where revellers were forced to pay a set price, $25-$30, to get to Surry Hills.

A taxi driver denies refusing to turn the meter on moments after telling a journalist that he won’t charge by the meter for a trip to Surry Hills.

A taxi drivers refuses to turn the meter on for a trip from Barangaroo to Surry Hills before speeding off.

The Point to Point Transport Commissioner refused to say how many hours have been spent on undercover compliance operations, citing safety concerns for officers conducting the checks.

Mr Abrahim called for the Point to Point Transport Commissioner to get new powers to “permanently” ban repeat offenders from all point to point services.

“There should also be a provision of two consecutive prosecutions leading to a disqualifying offence, meaning the driver can no longer drive point to point.”

On Friday night the Telegraph witnessed security guards stationed at several CBD taxi ranks who were ensuring cab drivers were doing the right thing.

DODGY TAXIS THE ULTIMATE BUZZKILL

Late night Point to Point commissioner security guards at taxi ranks near Kings Street Wharf, Sydney. Picture: Jeremy Piper

Greedy taxi drivers are killing the buzz on night’s out as Sydneysiders reveal cabbies are regularly leaving the meter off or refusing rides.

King St Wharf in Barangaroo was a particular hotspot on Thursday night where Sydneysiders reported being unable to find a taxi that would charge by the meter.

One man heading to Birrong was told he would have to pay a flat rate: “He said it’s a flat rate of $90. I was expecting it to be like $70. It happens a lot around here, it’s the second time it’s happened to me here.”

Another woman was forced to wait at the cab rank for 20 minutes when three taxis refused to take her to Balmain.

“This is my third time standing here. The third cab refuses to take people too close,” she said.

“My friends left 20 minutes ago and I‘m still waiting for a taxi. Especially as a woman standing on the side of the street, you kind of think you’ll be able to get a taxi, it doesn’t feel safe.”

Adelaide visitor Bernadette D’Argenio had two bad experiences across two nights in Sydney.

“(Last night) he asked us where we were going and we were going to Sussex St and he said I won‘t put the meter on and it’s a flat rate of $20 and I said ‘It’s like $11’ and he said ‘If you want to come that’s it’,” she said.

“That was last night and tonight they are saying it’s too close.”