Victorian taxi and rideshare drivers who refuse short trips, turn away passengers with assistance animals or repeatedly breach industry rules will face tougher penalties under a new round of reforms coming into effect over the next two months.
The State Government has announced a series of measures aimed at improving passenger safety and accountability across the industry, including expanding its “two strikes and you’re out” rule and introducing a new offence for drivers who refuse fares.
From 1 July, drivers who misuse taxi metres, refuse to provide receipts or deny service to passengers travelling with assistance animals will risk losing their accreditation under the strengthened disciplinary framework. Audio recording will also become mandatory in all taxis, adding to the existing requirement for video recording.
The state’s public register of disciplinary action, often referred to as the name and shame register, will also be expanded to include more information about drivers and booking service providers who have faced regulatory action.
A month later, from 1 August, fare refusal will become a specific offence. Drivers who refuse passengers, including those taking short trips, will face penalties and the offence will be incorporated into the existing two-strikes rule. Under that system, drivers prosecuted twice for certain offences within a ten-year period can lose their accreditation.
The reforms also place new obligations on booking service providers, requiring them to notify regulators of incidents involving overcharging, service refusals and assaults, including allegations of sexual assault.
The government says the expanded public register will help prevent drivers who have been disqualified by one operator from quietly moving to another provider. It will also show when a driver’s accreditation has been cancelled due to a criminal offence or court order, or suspended following serious allegations of sexual assault.
Minister for Public and Active Transport Gabrielle Williams said, “Turning away some of our most vulnerable passengers because it’s a short trip or because they’re travelling with an assistance animal has no place in this industry.”
“Our name and shame register will stop repeat wrong-doers from quietly moving to another provider and getting back behind the wheel,” she said.
“Most drivers do the right thing every day. We’re making sure the small minority who don’t are held to account.”
