2002

THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY
FOR THE AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY

ROAD TRANSPORT (PUBLIC PASSENGER SERVICES) REGULATIONS 2002

APPROVAL OF TAXIMETER STANDARDS 

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

Circulated by authority of

Bill Wood MLA
Minister for Urban Services

AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY

ROAD TRANSPORT (PUBLIC PASSENGER SERVICES) REGULATIONS 2002

APPROVAL OF TAXIMETER STANDARDS

DISALLOWABLE INSTRUMENT - DI 2002 -18

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

Overview

The Road Transport (Public Passenger Services) Act 2001 and regulations made under it permit the Road Transport Authority to approve Standards for taximeters pursuant to sub-regulation 158(1) of the Road Transport (Public Passenger Services) Regulations 2002.

The Standards commence on 1 March 2002 and are the first such Standards to be approved by the Authority.

The principal impact of Taximeter Standards will be to give greater responsibility to operators and authorised service repairers for the type, installation, testing and sealing of taximeters.

Details

The Standards will ensure consistency within the taxi industry for the specifications of taximeter utilised.  The placement of the taximeter within the taxi has also been prescribed to allow for compliance with Australian Design Rules.

To ensure high consumer protection mandatory requirements are specified for the testing and service requirements.  Under the Standards taximeters must be sealed to minimise tampering or adjustment of determined taxi fare rates by unauthorised persons.  Taximeters that have seals damaged or removed for any reason must undertake testing in accordance with the “Standards Relating to Taximeter Testing” before resealing can occur.

A specific Standard has been included to require all wheelchair accessible taxis to have a repeater display taximeter installed at the rear of the taxi.  This will ensure that people being transported in wheelchairs are given adequate opportunity to view the taximeter operation.  A transitional approach has been adopted for this Standard, compliance required by March 2003.  

The Standards for Taximeters will comprise part of the required standards for Taxi Service Operator Accreditation under the Road Transport (Public Passenger Services) Regulations 2002.  Non-compliance with the Taximeter Standards will allow the Road Transport Authority to undertake disciplinary action against the Accredited Taxi Service Operator pursuant to those regulations.