Taxi and rideshare passengers in NSW will soon have greater protection against dodgy drivers, thanks to a major upgrade to the state’s Driver Vehicle Dashboard. The new system aims to prevent rogue drivers from avoiding penalties by simply switching taxi companies.
Dylan Anderson
Stronger Oversight to Stop Scams
As of today, all taxi and rideshare operators in NSW will have access to a centralized database that flags drivers who have committed fare-related offences. This means companies can instantly check if a driver has been fined or prosecuted for overcharging, failing to use the meter, or refusing fares.
This move, spearheaded by the Minns Labor Government, strengthens the existing regulatory framework, ensuring that offenders don’t slip through the cracks by moving between companies.
Two Strikes and You’re Out
The database upgrade supports NSW’s ‘two strikes and you’re out’ rule, introduced in December 2024. Under this policy, any driver caught scamming passengers twice will be permanently banned from the industry. The Point-to-Point Commissioner has also warned existing offenders that they could soon be disqualified.
The government has been cracking down on dishonest drivers for some time, increasing fines for overcharging and fare refusal from $300 to $1,000 in July 2023. Since November 2022, more than 1,000 fines have been issued.
Dylan Anderson
More Inspectors, More Compliance Checks
The NSW Point-to-Point Transport Commission has ramped up enforcement efforts, deploying more inspectors for both plain-clothes and high-visibility compliance operations across the state.
Point to Point Transport Commissioner Anthony Wing emphasized that the industry is taking the crackdown seriously:
“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 will now also be visible to all operators through the Driver Vehicle Dashboard and face being disqualified if found guilty in court on two separate occasions.”
What This Means for Passengers
For NSW’s 15,000 taxi and rideshare drivers, the vast majority of whom follow the rules, these new measures serve to weed out the dishonest few tarnishing the industry’s reputation.
Transport Minister John Graham reassured passengers that these changes will help protect their rights:
“We know the vast majority of drivers are doing the right thing, but these improvements send a strong message to rogue drivers that you will be caught, fined, and possibly removed from the industry altogether.”
Passengers who believe they have been scammed are encouraged to report incidents by calling the NSW Taxi Fare Hotline at 1800 500 410, which should be displayed in all NSW taxis.
With this latest move, the NSW Government is making it clear: ripping off passengers will no longer be tolerated.
Dylan Anderson
Dylan Anderson
