It was a very busy Easter period for the Commissioner’s on-street Inspectors who attended multiple sports, racing and other events across Sydney and the rest of the state. The Inspectors were onsite to monitor and enforce compliance as well as ensuring passenger safety.
Across the week 14 April 2025 – 20 April 2025
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59 breaches were identified
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15 Improvement Notices were issued
Sydney Olympic Park – NRL Rabbitohs V Bulldogs
On 18 April the Commissioner’s Inspectors attended Sydney Olympic Park for the NRL game with a record attendance of 65,305.
The majority of patrons were using public transport to get to the event due to the major event road closures in place.
The on-street Inspectors were onsite to monitor compliance, deterring drivers from demanding fixed fares and to ensure they accepted hirings. The Inspectors’ vehicles were also strategically positioned within the taxi rank pick up area, clearly displaying signs to drivers and patrons alike that taxis must use the meter.
The team inspected 22 taxis and 36 hire vehicles with no breaches reported.
Randwick Races – The Schweppes All Aged Stakes Day
The Randwick Races took place 19 April. The Commissioner’s on street team reported that the taxi rank was busy with a high demand, however the surrounding Alison Street and Darby Road were quieter than usual with very few hire vehicle and taxi movements.
Inspectors were onsite to monitor activities and ensure drivers were accepting hirings and using the fare calculation devices. 38 taxis and 87 hire vehicles were inspected.
17 Penalty Notices were issued for- Clause 20(2) Retroreflective sign not displayed.
1 Prohibition Notice was issued for – Clause 9 - Vehicle maintenance (tyre canvas exposed).
Moore Park – A-League + AFL
Another busy day for the team attending the A-league and AFL at Moore Park with crowds of 45,000.
A large number of patrons were using public transport, light rail and trains to get to the precinct, again due to the major event road closures in place.
The on-street inspectors reported that the taxi rank on Errol Flynn Bvd was relatively busy during the afternoon & leading up to egress. The Inspectors positioned themselves at the rank to make sure the taxi rank was clear from private vehicles and hire vehicles and to ensure drivers were accepting hirings and using the fare calculation device.
Point to Point Transport Commission vehicles were also strategically placed in areas of high vehicular and pedestrian traffic with VMS boards advising passengers drivers must use their meters.
18 taxis and 41 hire vehicles were inspected. One penalty notice was issued.
Byron Bay - Bluesfest
The ‘farewell’ Bluesfest took place in Byron Bay 17-20 April with the Commissioner’s Inspectors attending for the full four-day event which attracted an impressive 109,000 attendees.
Demand for point to point services was extremely high, the on-street Inspectors were onsite to monitor compliance, deterring drivers from demanding fixed fares, to ensure they accepted hirings and to ensure that individuals understood the need to be authorised.
The inspectors were kept extremely busy with 297 inspections across both taxis and hire vehicles, issuing 13 penalty notices and 2 improvement notices.
Weekly wrap up
Top offences identified
| Driver related offence | |
| Clause 20(2) Hire vehicles ensure retroreflective indicates is a hire vehicle | 42 |
| Clause 67(1) Driver to be hired only at specific zones - Sydney Airport precinct and other airports | 7 |
| Clause 76 Stand in taxi zone if taxi is hired or not available for hire | 3 |
| Clause 28(1) Not contravene taxi driver identity documentation to be displayed | 2 |
| Clause 59(1) Driver must not smoke in vehicle whether or not used as a taxi service | 2 |
| Road Rules - Clause 182(1) A driver must not stop in a taxi zone, unless the driver is driving a taxi | 2 |
| Clause 81(1) (b) Taxi driver must start fare calculating device on hiring | 1 |
| Improvement notices | |
| Clause 9 Vehicle maintenance (worn tyres and seatbelts) | 5 |
| Clause 12(1) Signs, lights and markings - taxis | 3 |
| Clause 18(1) Approved security camera systems and safeguards - taxis in working order | 3 |
| Clause 12(3) Must comply with signs, lights and markings - taxis clearly identifiable markings | 2 |
| Clause 14(2) Not contravene fare calculation devices - taxis fares and figure must be clearly visible | 2 |