The Point to Point Transport Commissioner’s compliance team of Authorised Officers are consistently out and about conducting compliance operations and activities across NSW to support safer passenger services.
The Compliance team recently conducted compliance activities at Splendour in the Grass festival at North Byron Parklands from 21-24 July. The event this year, which had more than 35,000 people in attendance, saw a bright and sunny comeback after the event was a muddy and wet event in 2022. In total, 178 vehicles were inspected over the three day event. Penalty Infringement Notices (PINs) were reported for rideshare and other hire vehicles not displaying retroreflective signs. All hire vehicles, including rideshare, when being used to provide passenger services must have a retroreflective sign displayed on or near the rear of the driver’s side of the vehicle.
Improvement notices were also issued to taxi service providers who had not made available ID mounts inside taxis for drivers to display their IDs, although drivers were displaying their IDs by other means, and two taxis with inoperative roof lights. Overall, compliance was good, and the event was well organised, leading to a good time for everyone attending and safe passenger pick up and set down.
Targeted operations were also conducted on 3 August at the Roosters and Sea Eagles NRL game at Allianz Stadium, Moore Park.
These targeted operations assessed the vehicle standards of rideshare (and other hire vehicles) and taxis alongside driver compliance with the point to point transport law. In total, 145 hire vehicles including rideshare and taxis were intercepted during the event.
The event was well attended with the crowd looking to use point to point transport. Overall compliance of the vehicles and drivers was good, with only a small portion of vehicles found to not meet the required standards and driver failing to meet obligations under the point to point transport law.
A number of PINs were reported at the event including a rideshare driver failing to display a retroreflective sign and a taxi standing for hire in a non-taxi zone and another PIN was reported for a fare related offence as a taxi driver providing rank and hail, failed to immediately accept a trip from a passenger. The penalty is subject to a fine of $1,000.
The Commissioner’s Compliance team continues targeted activities at busy locations including airports, Sydney CBD and major sporting events to ensure compliance is continuously met. We’d also like to remind the industry that the Commissioner’s team of Authorised Officers are still out conducting highly visible and plain clothed operations during the FIFA Women’s World Cup to ensure all drivers are playing by the rules. #GoMatildas
The Commissioner’s website also provides monthly industry statistics updates on compliance activities as a part of his commitment to effective and consistent regulation.