2002

THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY
FOR THE AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY

ROAD TRANSPORT (PUBLIC PASSENGER SERVICES) REGULATIONS 2002

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

Circulated by authority of

Bill Wood MLA
Minister for Urban Services

AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY

ROAD TRANSPORT (PUBLIC PASSENGER SERVICES) REGULATIONS 2002

SUBORDINATE LAW 2002 No. 3

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

Overview

The Road Transport (Public Passenger Services) Regulations 2002 incorporate the Road Transport (Public Passenger) Regulations 2001 and add new regulations for taxi services.  The regulations are consequential to the Road Transport (Public Passenger Services) Amendment Act 2001 and are primarily aimed at ensuring a safe, reliable and efficient taxi service is provided to the community.

Details

The regulations:

(a)	establish taxi network provider and taxi service operator accreditation;

(b)	establish the processes for issuing, making of conditions for, and cancelling taxi licences;

(c)	extend the corporation provisions for the mandatory refusal of accreditation to include breaches against other Australian or foreign laws;

(d)	establish mandatory refusal of accreditation when the relevant person is an undischarged bankrupt;

(e)	provide that the road transport authority may direct an operator to undertake training;

(f)	establish the responsibilities and obligations of taxi networks, operators and drivers in relation to wheelchair accessible taxi hirings, the training for drivers of wheelchair accessible taxis, and the securing of wheelchairs within taxis;

(g)	establish taxi industry obligations and responsibilities for the installation, use and recordings for security cameras;

(h)	establish the process for the making of Standards for Security Cameras in taxis, Taxi Network Performance and Taximeters;

(i)	set out the requirements for taxi networks including affiliation arrangements with taxi service operators, booking services, retention of records and arrangements for lost property;

(j)	set out the requirements for taxi operators including the maintenance of taxis, the retention of records, arrangements with taxi networks and arrangements for lost property;

(k)	set out the requirements for taxi drivers including behaviour and dress, carriage of animals and goods, cleanliness of taxis while operating;

(l)	set out the arrangements for taxi hirings, operation of roof signage and taximeters, and taxi fares and fare deposits;

(m)	 set out the requirements for passengers travelling in taxis particularly in relation to eating and drinking, carriage of animals and soiled clothing;

(n)	establish the process of declaring the ACT taxi region;

(o)	establish the disciplinary and enforcement action that may be taken for taxi network provider and taxi service operator accreditation, and taxi licences;  and

(p)	provide for the process of exempting buses built to carry over 9, but less than 16, adults (including the driver) from the basic concept that prevents a bus from being a taxi.

These Regulations are made under the Road Transport (Public Passenger Services) Act 2001.