Queensland taxi drivers will be mandated to turn on their meters for all rank and hail journeys, even if a pre-arranged price has been agreed to, in a bid to ensure passengers are not overcharged.
The state government signed off on the new regulations last week, with taxi drivers to face fines of up to $3,096, or be issued a penalty infringement notice of $309, if they are caught breaching the rules when they come into effect from October.
The new regulations will require drivers who are delivering a rank or hail taxi service to activate their meter regardless of whether a fare has been agreed to in advance with the passenger.
In Queensland, the Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) regulates maximum taxi fares for those services that are hailed or taken from a rank.
A spokesperson for the department said that by displaying the maximum fare for all journeys on the meter, passengers would be able to identify if a driver was attempting to overcharge them.
“When a fare has been agreed in advance but the final fare on the meter is less, it is an offence for the taxi driver to charge more than the fare shown on the meter,” the spokesperson said.
“This will provide passengers with assurance that they are being charged no more than the maximum fare for a taxi journey, and will ensure taxi drivers do not inadvertently breach these rules.”
The department says the changes will also help TMR officers when they conduct enforcement activities involving drivers who refuse to turn on their meters.
The regulation’s explanatory notes say there have been a number of incidents of taxis reportedly charging more than the maximum fare set out under the law, or refusing to take passengers who have requested the meter be turned on.
The explanatory notes refer to a passenger who was charged $80 to travel from the International Airport to Hendra, which would normally cost about $25 at the time of night they travelled.
‘Small number of drivers’
Taxi Council Queensland chief executive Blair Davies said the new rules were “well-intended”.
“We certainly don’t want drivers overcharging customers and we don’t want drivers refusing fares unreasonably because they don’t want to put the taxi meter on,” he said.
“If these regulatory changes help dissuade drivers from doing that, it will be a good thing.”
Mr Davies said existing laws already made it clear that drivers could not charge more than the maximum fares allowed.
“But if this regulatory change makes it easier for the Department of Transport compliance officers to get out there and do their job, then we support it,” he said
“We think that there is a small number of drivers that are doing the wrong thing and they’re bringing the whole industry into disrepute.
“The sooner those drivers stop that behaviour, or go find somewhere else to work, the better.”
Mr Davies said a lot of customers wanted to agree to a fare in advance of their trip so they knew what they would pay.
“We think that’s where the consumer is heading,” he said.
“The taxi meter has done a job for the past 100 years, but quite frankly consumers have moved on.
“They like quoted fares.
“We’re not sure how the regulation supports that. Hopefully, it doesn’t get in the way.”
(ABC)
