Crooked cabbies booted to the kerb for repeat offences

Dodgy cabbies will be banned in NSW if caught breaking the rules more than once. (Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS)

Dodgy taxi drivers who repeatedly overcharge passengers, refuse short trips or do not use the meter will face 10-year bans under an industry crackdown.

About 100 drivers in NSW have been hit with multiple fines in the past two years, while more than 2500 overcharged passengers have received refunds.

Other examples of bad taxi driver behaviours include trying to negotiate a fare that is not displayed on the meter, adding an extra surcharge or pinging passengers with a maxi-taxi tariff when fewer than five people are in the van.

But some drivers sacked from one cab company have appeared behind the wheel of another taxi company, or jumped over to Uber.

Those law-breaking drivers have been warned they will no longer only face fines, with repeat offenders to be hauled before a court from December 6.

Any driver twice convicted in court will be handed a 10-year industry ban.

A database would help monitor offences by rogue drivers, NSW Transport Minister Jo Haylen said.

"This will result in rogue drivers being kicked out of the industry, whether they drive for taxis, Uber or other ride-share operators," she told reporters on Wednesday.

The taxi and rideshare watchdog has encouraged passengers to report overcharging and other incidents to the taxi fare hotline.

Even when a fine or refund could not be issued, each report helped inform where targeted covert stings were needed, Point to Point Transport Commissioner Anthony Wing said.

"My investigators ... look for people who are getting multiple reports and follow those up to potentially prosecute them," he said.

More than 900 fines have been issued in the past two years.

NSW has more than 15,000 taxi drivers across 266 companies.

Peak industry body the NSW Taxi Council welcomed the change, which it said came in response to its calls to weed out bad drivers.

"We want to send a strong message to the majority of tax drivers providing a good service - we have their back and we want to ensure we have a thriving industry," chief executive Nick Abrahim told AAP.

"The few who are tarnishing the industry are who we want to weed out."

He called for further measures to reduce meter tampering and centralise accreditation.

License this article

What is AAPNews?

For the first time, Australian Associated Press is delivering news straight to the consumer.

No ads. No spin. News straight-up.

Not only do you get to enjoy high-quality news delivered straight to your desktop or device, you do so in the knowledge you are supporting media diversity in Australia.

AAP Is Australia’s only independent newswire service, free from political and commercial influence, producing fact-based public interest journalism across a range of topics including politics, courts, sport, finance and entertainment.

What is AAPNews?
The Morning Wire

Wake up to AAPNews’ morning news bulletin delivered straight to your inbox or mobile device, bringing you up to speed with all that has happened overnight at home and abroad, as well as setting you up what the day has in store.

AAPNews Morning Wire
AAPNews Breaking News
Breaking News

Be the first to know when major breaking news happens.


Notifications will be sent to your device whenever a big story breaks, ensuring you are never in the dark when the talking points happen.

Focused Content

Enjoy the best of AAP’s specialised Topics in Focus. AAP has reporters dedicated to bringing you hard news and feature content across a range of specialised topics including Environment, Agriculture, Future Economies, Arts and Refugee Issues.

AAPNews Focussed Content
Subscription Plans

Choose the plan that best fits your needs. AAPNews offers two basic subscriptions, all billed monthly.

Once you sign up, you will have seven days to test out the service before being billed.

AAPNews Full Access Plan
Full Access
AU$10
  • Enjoy all that AAPNews has to offer
  • Access to breaking news notifications and bulletins
  • Includes access to all AAPNews’ specialised topics
Join Now
AAPNews Student Access Plan
Student Access
AU$5
  • Gain access via a verified student email account
  • Enjoy all the benefits of the ‘Full Access’ plan at a reduced rate
  • Subscription renews each month
Join Now
AAPNews Annual Access Plan
Annual Access
AU$99
  • All the benefits of the 'Full Access' subscription at a discounted rate
  • Subscription automatically renews after 12 months
Join Now

AAPNews also offers enterprise deals for businesses so you can provide an AAPNews account for your team, organisation or customers. Click here to contact AAP to sign-up your business today.

SEVEN DAYS FREE
Download the app
Download AAPNews on the App StoreDownload AAPNews on the Google Play Store