NZTA action against taxi drivers refusing short trip fares

The NZ Transport Agency says two Auckland taxi drivers have been penalised with instant $400 fines for refusing short journey fares, and four other drivers are under investigation for similar offences.

All six drivers were working at night when they refused the fares.

The two fines, imposed under the Operator Licensing Rules (2007) which prohibits drivers from refusing fares because the requested journey is too short, follow complaints to the NZTA from people unable to get rides in the central city area.

Two of the remaining four face fines after an operation by NZTA officers targeting central city ranks. The two others are also the subject of complaints from people who tried to hire their taxis. One of the four drivers faces additional court action for removing his identification disc, which he is required by law to display inside his taxi.

Andy Thackwray, the Regional Manager in Auckland for Access and Use – the NZTA group responsible for regulating the taxi industry – says there has been increase in complaints recently about drivers refusing short fare trips, and the NZTA’s action sends a clear message to both the industry and to the public that the practise will not be tolerated.

“It’s not just a question of money, it’s also an issue of providing a service, especially at night. People need to have the confidence that they can hire a taxi so that they can get to their destination safely, no matter the length of that journey.

“We accept that drivers, especially late at night, can wait a long time for a fare. There are reasons when drivers can legitimately refuse a fare, but the distance a person wants to travel is not one of them,” says Mr Thackwray.

All six drivers are able to continue to drive, but Mr Thackwray says their refusal to accept short journeys may be taken into account when they come to renew the P endorsement on their licence, which they need to operate as taxi drivers.

“Taxi drivers and their companies have an obligation to provide a reliable and safe service – not just during the Rugby World Cup - but long before that tournament begins and long after it is over,” Mr Thackwray says. “The NZTA insists that drivers and companies comply with that obligation.”