Taxi drivers in NSW who have broken the rules will not be able to escape offences by switching taxi companies, thanks to the Minns Labor Government’s major improvements to the Driver Vehicle Dashboard.
These improvements to the Driver Vehicle Dashboard will allow all point-to-point service providers, including rideshare and taxi companies, to see any driver who has been caught committing fare-related offences while providing driving services, including overcharging, not using the meter or refusing a fare.
This means all taxi and rideshare companies can check if drivers have previously been fined or prosecuted for ripping off a passenger, regardless of which company they were working for.
Companies who operate taxi, rideshare or any other point to point transport vehicle can access to the centralised dashboard, which is already checked by industry more than 70 million times a year.
These improvements support the NSW Government’s strong stance on stamping out illegal driver behaviour.
In December 2024, the Minns Labor Government introduced new ‘two strikes and you’re out’ laws which sees rouge taxi drivers disqualified from the point-to-point industry if caught ripping off passengers on two separate occasions.
The Point-to-Point Commissioner has also put drivers with existing breaches on notice that they are now at risk of being disqualified from the industry.
The Government also increased the fine for drivers caught overcharging, not using the meter or refusing fares to $1000 from $300 in July 2023, with 1000 fines issued since November 2022.
The Commissions inspectors continue to conduct both plain clothes and highly visible operations across NSW, with more inspectors on the road carrying out more compliance operations than ever before.
Minister for Transport John Graham said:
“We know the vast majority of NSW’s 15,000 drivers are doing the right thing, but these improvements send a strong message to the minority of rogue drivers that you will be caught, fined and possibly removed from the industry altogether.
“These upgrades to the driver vehicle dashboard support our strong stance on ‘two strikes and you’re out’ laws by making it even easier for the industry to stop the minority of drivers who are caught doing the wrong thing from working as a taxi or rideshare driver in NSW.
“If you feel you’ve been ripped off while catching a taxi, don’t hesitate to call the Taxi Fare Hotline on 1800 500 410, which should be clearly displayed on all NSW Taxis.
Point to Point Transport Commissioner Anthony Wing said:
“Drivers know that my team of Inspectors is frequently out conducting plain clothes operations along with highly visible compliance activities. If drivers are caught and fined, they now will also be visible to all operators through the Driver Vehicle Dashboard and face being disqualified if found guilty in court on two separate occasions.
“The point to point transport industry has widely applauded the new Dashboard enhancements as an important part of the crackdown on rogue drivers.”
