On 4 March 2024, hire car driver, Muhammad Abbasi was found guilty at the Sydney Downing Centre Local Court of two separate offences of touting and soliciting for passengers in the Sydney Airport precinct area.
In both offences, Mr Abbasi approached and initiated contact with the Point to Point Transport Commissioner’s Authorised Officers as they were exiting the T3 terminal at Sydney Domestic Airport, asking if they needed a lift or transport for a fare. This is known as touting and is illegal.
The Authorised Officers were conducting plain clothes operations as part of ongoing compliance activities by the Commissioner at the Sydney Airport precinct.
Mr Abbasi was fined $1,000 for the first offence, $1,200 for the second offence and ordered to pay $500 in legal costs. As the driver now has two convictions for this offence, the driver is disqualified from driving in the point to point transport industry.
Hire vehicle and rideshare drivers must not provide a passenger service to a person who does not have a prior booking and cannot directly approach a person or people to offer a passenger service.
“While most drivers are doing the right thing, unfortunately, there are some drivers who loiter around terminals and high traffic areas hassling passengers to offer a ride unlawfully and touting for business,” Point to Point Transport Commissioner, Anthony Wing said.
The Commissioner’s Authorised Officers will continue to carry out highly visible and plain clothes compliance operations at the Airport and across NSW, and drivers who break the law will continue to be fined and prosecuted.
“Passengers getting into unknown vehicles when approached at the airport, or other locations, risk travelling with a driver or vehicle that hasn’t undergone safety checks, and other standard vetting procedures by an authorised service provider,” Mr Wing said.
“Passengers can also feel harassed and unsafe when approached by touting drivers, and are susceptible to being exploited, including through overcharging on fares,” Mr Wing continued.
Safety is my priority, and as seen by this case and the Magistrate’s decision, touting and soliciting will not be tolerated,” Mr Wing finished.
Background on the Point to Point Transport Commissioner
The Point to Point Transport Commissioner, Anthony Wing, is the independent regulator for taxis, hire vehicles and rideshare, in NSW. The Commissioner's main role is to administer and enforce point to point transport law, including safety standards for the industry.
NSW has strong safety laws to ensure the safety of taxi, rideshare and hire vehicle passenger services, and every provider must comply with these safety standards.
All service providers must ensure their vehicles are appropriately registered and safe to be driven on the road, and drivers must clear a series of background checks before they can provide passenger services.
The Commissioner works with the point to point transport industry including service providers to ensure they have the knowledge and capability to implement systems for managing safety; focusing particularly on compliance through education and information, and undertaking advisory, audit and enforcement activities.
For more information see the Point to Point Transport Commissioner’s website.
To understand more about safety standards for service providers and drivers in relation to touting and soliciting, please read our fact sheet and refer to section 66 of the Point to Point Transport (Taxis and Hire Vehicles) Act 2016.
Media Enquiries
Alex Thompson m. 0499 612 089
Alexandra.thompson@transport.nsw.gov.au