These regulations set the operational rules for passenger transport services: who must be accredited, what booking providers and drivers must do, what records and equipment operators must keep, how fares and vehicle capacity are set, and what enforcement powers and penalties apply. They affect accredited operators, booking platforms, taxi and on‑demand drivers, and passengers by imposing compliance tasks (records, equipment, fare rules, scanning) and by giving the Commission, authorised officers and drivers powers to direct or exclude passengers.
These Regulations replace the Passenger Transport Services Regulations 2013 (regulation 53) and took effect on 26 June 2023 (regulation 2). Mechanically the instrument:
Prescribes definitions and operational terms used by the Passenger Transport Services Act 2011 (the Act), for example contactless payment method, reader, ticket, statewide fare structure, hiring period, on‑demand driver and operational capacity (regulation 3).
Specifies which offences in other statutes count as "serious offences" for the Act’s purposes (regulation 4).
Establishes the accreditation register fields (regulation 8) and authorises the Commission to issue instructions about displaying evidence of accreditation (regulation 9).
Sets out record‑keeping, reporting and notification obligations for accredited operators, booking service providers and relevant persons, including detailed monthly vehicle registers and accident/incident reporting categories (regulations 10-12).
Defines operational capacity and how to calculate seating and standing capacity (Schedule 1; regulation 15), together with obligations to display operational capacity in vehicles (regulation 15(2)).
Prescribes fares rules (regulation 14), including a cap against statewide fare structure, a default fare mechanism where passengers fail to scan (regulation 14(1A)), and rules for taxi fares under the Taxi and Hire Vehicle Industries Act 2008 (regulation 14(2)-(3)).
Imposes duties on accredited operators, licence holders, relevant persons and drivers, and creates criminal/penalty‑unit sanctions for breaches (regulations 16-18).
Sets out powers and procedural rules for operators, drivers, authorised officers and police to direct passengers, require evidence, disallow persons from travelling and remove persons where necessary (regulations 27-47).
Current sections
Direct links to the current provisions in Passenger Transport Services Regulations 2023.
(a) a debit or credit card issued by an authorised deposit-taking institution; or
(b) a physical or electronic card or token issued by the department responsible for the administration of the Act; or
(c) another device or item –
capable of being used to make payment for a fare by means of a reader;
fare at a concession rate includes a fare calculated in accordance with a taxi subsidy program under a transport concession scheme administered by the Department;
hiring period means the period between such time as a taxi that has been hired is put in motion until the time when the taxi comes to a stop at the destination;
on-demand driver means a driver of a vehicle used for the provision of an on-demand passenger transport service;
operational capacity, in respect of a vehicle, means the operational capacity of the vehicle as determined under Schedule 1 ;
(a) is installed, in an approved manner, in a vehicle being used to provide a regular passenger service; and
(b) is to be used for the purposes of –
(i) accepting payment for fares relating to the regular passenger service; and
(ii) registering when a passenger commences and ceases a journey on or in the vehicle;
relevant person, in respect of a vehicle, means –
(a) if the vehicle is being operated as a taxi under the authority of a taxi licence that can be identified, the responsible operator of the taxi licence; or
(b) if the vehicle is being operated as a taxi under the authority of a taxi licence that cannot be identified, the registered operator of the vehicle; or
(c) if the vehicle is not being operated as a taxi, the registered operator of the vehicle;
required equipment means equipment, notices, signs or labels installed or displayed in accordance with the Taxi and Hire Vehicle Industries Act 2008 in a vehicle that is being operated under the authority of a licence;
[Regulation 3 Subregulation (1) amended by S.R. 2025, No. 65, Applied:10 Dec 2025]scan, in relation to a ticket or a contactless payment method, means to hold the ticket or contactless payment method in front of a reader until such time as the reader indicates (by means of a display, sound or other signal) that it has read and accepted payment by means of the ticket or contactless payment method;
[Regulation 3 Subregulation (1) amended by S.R. 2025, No. 65, Applied:10 Dec 2025]statewide fare structure means a document, approved by the Secretary and published from time to time on a website maintained by or on behalf of the Department, specifying the fares which may be charged by, or on behalf of, the Department or the operator of a regular passenger service contracted by the Secretary under section 44 , 45 or 46 of the Act;
ticket includes an electronic ticket or electronic token that indicates that a fare has been paid in relation to a journey on a passenger transport service.
For the purposes of section 8(1)(d) of the Act, the following motor vehicles are prescribed as motor vehicles to which the Act does not apply:
(a) vans used to transport prisoners within the meaning of the Corrections Act 1997 ;
(b) large passenger vehicles used primarily to provide services in, or responses to, an emergency within the meaning of the Emergency Management Act 2006 , whether the vehicle is operated by the State or a private organisation.
6
Booking service providers
6 Booking service providers
(1) For the purposes of this regulation –
community transport service means a transport service provided by –
(a) an organisation that provides a service in pursuit of the primary purposes of that organisation and that is –
(i) a not-for-profit organisation; and
(ii) funded entirely or partially by any of the following or a combination of any of the following:
(a) the Commonwealth;
(b) the State;
(c) a council; or
(b) an organisation that is, or is entitled to be, endorsed by the Australian Taxation Office as a charitable or benevolent institution; or
(c) a council.
(2) For the purposes of section 8A(4) of the Act, the following persons are prescribed to be a booking service provider:
(a) a person who provides a taxi dispatch service or other communication network that operates in a taxi area that is not a remote taxi area;
(b) a person who permits a ride-sourcing driver to operate a passenger transport service by means of ride-sourcing software.
(3) For the purposes of section 8A(5) of the Act, the following persons are prescribed not to be a booking service provider:
(a) a person who provides a community transport service;
(b) a person who provides radio or dispatch services in relation to services in, or responses to, an emergency within the meaning of the Emergency Management Act 2006 ;
(c) a person who provides, or provides services in relation to, the tuition of drivers;
(d) a person who is the licence holder, accredited operator or registered operator in relation to a vehicle being operated as a taxi and is affiliated with a booking service provider;
(e) a person who is the licence holder, accredited operator or registered operator in relation to a vehicle being operated as a taxi, and who both arranges bookings in relation to the provision of a taxi service and uses a taxi dispatch service for this purpose, but is not an affiliated operator in relation to a booking service provider.
(4) For the avoidance of doubt, a person specified in subregulation (3)(d) may occasionally refer bookings to, or receive bookings from, another such person without being deemed a booking service provider.
7
Regular passenger services
7 Regular passenger services
For the purposes of section 35(2)(c) of the Act, a passenger service is taken not to be a regular passenger service for the purposes of the Act if the passenger service is operated by, or on behalf of, a private institution or association solely for use by people enrolled at, or affiliated with, that institution or association.
Part 2
Administration of Passenger Transport Services
Part 2 Administration of Passenger Transport Services
Division 1
General
Division 1 General
8
Accreditation register
8 Accreditation register
For the purposes of section 23(2)(a) of the Act, the following particulars in respect of an accredited operator are prescribed as the particulars that are to be contained within the register required to be kept under that section:
(a) the full name of the accredited operator;
(b) the business address of the accredited operator;
(c) each type of accreditation held by the accredited operator;
(d) the accreditation number associated with each type of accreditation held by the accredited operator;
(e) the date on which each type of accreditation held by the accredited operator commenced;
(f) the current accreditation status of the accredited operator;
(g) any conditions attached to an accreditation held by the accredited operator;
(h) the full name and contact details for the relevant person nominated in respect of each accreditation held by the accredited operator;
(i) whether the accredited operator is a booking service provider;
(j) if the accredited operator is a booking service provider –
(i) the full name and contact details of each affiliated operator in relation to the accredited operator; and
(ii) the accreditation number of each affiliated operator who provides a taxi service, in relation to the accredited operator; and
(iii) the date on which the affiliated operator became affiliated with the accredited operator; and
(iv) the date on which the affiliated operator ceased to be affiliated with the accredited operator, if applicable.
9
Displaying evidence of accreditation
9 Displaying evidence of accreditation
(1) The Commission may issue written instructions as to how evidence of accreditation is to be displayed in vehicles used to provide services in accordance with the accreditation.
(2) An accredited operator must comply with any applicable written instructions issued under subregulation (1) .
Penalty: Fine not exceeding 10 penalty units.
Division 2
Records, reports and conditions of on-demand passenger transport service accredited operators
Division 2 Records, reports and conditions of on-demand passenger transport service accredited operators
10
Records
10 Records
(1) An accredited operator providing an on-demand passenger transport service is to keep records of the following information in relation to the provision of that service:
(a) copies of the information required to be contained in the accreditation register under regulation 8(c), (d) , (e) , (g) , (i) and (j) ;
(b) the following particulars in relation to each person operating as an on-demand driver for the on-demand passenger transport service in relation to which accreditation is held by the accredited operator:
(i) the driver licence number or other unique driver identifier of the person;
(ii) the date of the commencement of the operation of that person;
(iii) the date of the conclusion of the operation of the person, if applicable;
(c) the number of vehicles being operated under the on-demand passenger transport service in relation to which accreditation is held by the accredited operator;
(d) the following particulars in relation to each vehicle being operated under the on-demand passenger transport service in relation to which accreditation is held by the accredited operator:
(g) particulars of any occasion during which a vehicle being operated during the provision of the service was not registered in accordance with the Vehicle and Traffic Act 1999 ;
(h) particulars of any occasion during which the on-demand driver operating a vehicle during the provision of the service was not licensed in accordance with the Vehicle and Traffic Act 1999 ;
(i) particulars of any incident occurring during the provision of the service that resulted in an injury to a person that required treatment by an ambulance officer or in the injured person being treated in a hospital;
(j) particulars of any incident occurring during the provision of the service that resulted in the vehicle that was being operated sustaining damage to such an extent that the vehicle was unable to be used to complete the service;
(k) particulars of any occasion during which a mechanical or other fault in the vehicle being operated during the provision of the service caused the vehicle to be unable to be used to complete the service;
(l) particulars of any incident occurring during the provision of the service that resulted in a complaint being made to the police containing allegations of assault, indecency or indecent assault;
(m) particulars of any incident occurring during the provision of the service which resulted in the on-demand driver who was operating the vehicle being charged with a serious offence;
(n) particulars of any incident occurring during the provision of the service which resulted in the on-demand driver who was operating the vehicle being subject to a disqualification from driving under one or more of the following Acts:
(o) a record of any accidents, incidents, hazards identified, or complaints made, in relation to the provision of the service;
(p) a record of any complaint made, in relation to the provision of the service, by a person who is accompanied by an assistance animal, as defined in the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 of the Commonwealth, who has been denied service for any reason;
(q) a record of all current policies, procedures and training records in relation to the service;
(r) a record of compliance or non-compliance with any requirement under the Act or any other Act, in relation to the service, by the following:
(i) an affiliated operator;
(ii) a relevant person;
(iii) a taxi licence holder;
(iv) a vehicle;
(v) an on-demand driver;
(s) any return, report, correspondence or document required to be produced under the Act or any other Act in relation to the service, produced by, or in the possession of, the accredited operator.
(2) An accredited operator not providing an on-demand passenger transport service is to keep records of the implementation of appropriate safety, security and related systems as required by safety, security and related standards approved under section 16 of the Act.
11
Monthly records
11 Monthly records
(1) The accredited operator, the booking services provider, and the relevant person in relation to an on-demand passenger transport service is to keep a record, for each calendar month, of the registration number of each vehicle used to operate the service during that calendar month.
(2) The Commission may request a copy of a record kept in accordance with subregulation (1) , within a period specified in the request.
(3) The Commission may exempt, for a specified period, a person from keeping a record in accordance with subregulation (1) .
(a) the following types of accidents or incidents are prescribed:
(i) an incident occurring during the provision of the passenger transport service that resulted in an injury to a person that required treatment by an ambulance officer or in the injured person being treated in a hospital;
(ii) an incident that resulted in the vehicle that was being operated during the provision of the passenger transport service sustaining damage to such an extent that the vehicle was unable to be used to complete the service;
(iii) an incident occurring during the provision of the passenger transport service that resulted in a complaint being made to the police containing allegations of assault, indecency or indecent assault;
(iv) an incident occurring during the provision of the passenger transport service that resulted in the driver who was operating the vehicle being charged with a serious offence;
(v) an incident occurring during the provision of the passenger transport service that resulted in the driver who was operating the vehicle being subject to a disqualification from driving under one or more of the following Acts:
(vi) an incident causing a complaint to be made in relation to the provision of the passenger transport service by a person who is accompanied by an assistance animal, as defined in the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 of the Commonwealth, who has been denied the service for any reason; and
(b) the following kinds of findings are prescribed:
(i) a finding that a vehicle was used in the provision of the passenger transport service while the vehicle was not registered in accordance with the Vehicle and Traffic Act 1999 ;
(iv) a finding that the driver of a vehicle used in the provision of the passenger transport service did not hold –
(A) an Australian driver licence in accordance with the Vehicle and Traffic Act 1999 , or a like authority issued under a corresponding law of another State or a Territory; or
(B) an ancillary certificate in accordance with the Vehicle and Traffic Act 1999 , or a like authority issued under a corresponding law of another State or a Territory –
during the provision of the passenger transport service.
13
Risk management system
13 Risk management system
If the Commission places on an accreditation a condition that the accredited operator develop and maintain a system for managing risks to safety and security relating to the performance of the service, the Commission may specify that the system is to identify –
(a) any reasonably foreseeable hazards that could give rise to risks to the health, safety or security of drivers, passengers or other persons in connection with the passenger transport service for which the operator is accredited; and
(b) any measures taken to eliminate or minimise those risks; and
(c) any improvements subsequently made to the measures specified in paragraph (b) following an incident affecting the health, safety or security of a driver, passenger or other person in connection with the passenger transport service for which the operator is accredited.
Division 3
Fares and operational capacity
Division 3 Fares and operational capacity
14
Fares
14 Fares
(1) A fare charged in relation to the provision of a regular passenger service must not exceed the following relevant fare:
(a) a fare calculated in accordance with the statewide fare structure;
(b) a fare calculated in accordance with a passenger service contract entered into with the Secretary in relation to the service under section 44 , 45 or 46 of the Act;
(c) a fare calculated in accordance with a condition of an authorisation approved by the Commission in relation to the service under section 39 of the Act.
(3) A taxi driver, before accepting a hiring, may request payment of a deposit that does not exceed the expected cost of the hiring.
15
Operational capacity
15 Operational capacity
(1) A person must not, without the prior written permission of the Commission, operate a passenger transport service for the purposes of carrying passengers, or cause or allow such a passenger transport service to be operated, if the number of seated and standing passengers on the vehicle being used to provide the passenger transport service exceeds the operational capacity of the vehicle.
Penalty: Fine not exceeding 25 penalty units.
(2) A person must not, without the prior written permission of the Commission, operate a passenger transport service for the purposes of carrying passengers, or cause or allow such a passenger transport service to be operated, unless the operational seating capacity, as determined under clause 2 of Schedule 1 , of the vehicle being used to provide the passenger transport service, in terms of the number of adult seats available for passengers, is prominently displayed inside the vehicle, together with its operational standing capacity, as determined under clause 3 of Schedule 1 , if this is greater than zero.
Penalty: Fine not exceeding 15 penalty units.
Part 3
Duties, Obligations and Offences
Part 3 Duties, Obligations and Offences
16
Failing to comply with duty
16 Failing to comply with duty
A person on whom a duty is imposed under these regulations must comply with that duty.
Penalty: Fine not exceeding 50 penalty units.
17
Duties of operators, relevant persons and licence holders
17 Duties of operators, relevant persons and licence holders
(1) It is the duty of an accredited operator and relevant person in relation to a passenger transport service to ensure that the safety of a driver of, or passenger on, a vehicle providing the passenger transport service is not, by any act or omission of the accredited operator or relevant person, placed at unreasonable risk.
(2) For the purposes of subregulation (1) , a person is taken not to have placed another person's safety at unreasonable risk if the person commits an act, or makes an omission, for the purpose of ensuring that a passenger transport service is provided in accordance with the laws of the State or the conditions of an accreditation.
(3) It is the duty of an accredited operator, holder of a licence and relevant person in relation to a passenger transport service to ensure that a vehicle providing the passenger transport service is not operated unless it complies with any vehicle specifications, or restrictions as to the age of the vehicle, in respect of the vehicle provided for under the Act, these regulations or any other Act or regulations.
(4) It is the duty of an accredited operator, holder of a licence and relevant person in relation to a passenger transport service to ensure that any required equipment is fitted, displayed, installed, updated, tested and operational as required by this Act, these regulations or any other Act or regulations.
(5) It is the duty of an accredited operator, holder of a licence and relevant person in relation to a passenger transport service to keep records and make reports as required by this Act, these regulations or any other Act or regulations.
(6) It is the duty of an accredited operator and relevant person in relation to a passenger transport service to produce for inspection any document that is required by the Commission to be carried in the vehicle, on the request of the Commission, an authorised officer or a police officer.
(7) It is the duty of an accredited operator, in relation to an on-demand passenger transport service, to ensure that –
(a) so far as is reasonably practicable, an on-demand driver in relation to the service is informed of, and complies with, all duties imposed upon the driver under this Division and other requirements imposed under an Act in relation to the service; and
(b) the person’s conduct does not, directly or indirectly, cause or encourage another person to fail to comply with any duty imposed upon the on-demand driver under this Division or other requirement imposed under an Act in relation to the service.
(8) It is the duty of an accredited operator in relation to a passenger transport service that is operating under a wheelchair-accessible taxi licence to ensure that a vehicle providing the passenger transport service is used to undertake the number of hirings that involve carrying a wheelchair passenger specified in the conditions of the licence.
(9) It is the duty of a person who is authorised under Part 3 of the Act to provide the whole, or any part, of a regular passenger service to provide that service or part service, unless the person is excused from doing so by the prior written permission of the Commission or in accordance with the laws of the State.
18
Duties of drivers
18 Duties of drivers
(1) The following are the duties of a driver of a vehicle providing a passenger transport service:
(a) not to behave in an offensive manner in the vehicle or in the vicinity of the vehicle;
(b) not to intentionally interfere, or intentionally attempt to interfere, with the comfort or safety of any person;
(c) to give reasonable assistance to assist a passenger to enter or exit the vehicle that the driver is operating in the course of providing the service, including a passenger who is in a wheelchair or using another mobility aid;
(d) not to set down a passenger at a place other than the destination nominated by the passenger unless –
(i) the passenger was set down elsewhere –
(A) pursuant to a direction given under Part 4 ; or
(B) for reasons of safety, in an emergency or on other reasonable grounds; or
(ii) in the case of a regular passenger service, the destination nominated by the passenger was not on the route of the regular passenger service; or
(iii) in the case of a regular passenger service having designated stopping places for the picking up and setting down of passengers, the passenger was set down at the stop nearest to the nominated destination; or
(iv) in the case of a school bus service being provided under a contract with the Secretary, the passenger, being a schoolchild, was set down elsewhere in accordance with the terms of that contract;
(e) not to discriminate against a person with a disability who has an assistance animal, as defined in the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 of the Commonwealth, by refusing to transport the assistance animal in the vehicle, except in accordance with section 54A of that Act;
(f) not to cause or allow a passenger on the vehicle –
(i) who is travelling in a standing position to obstruct an entrance or exit on the vehicle; or
(ii) to travel in a standing position to the danger or discomfort of another passenger or the driver;
(g) not to operate the vehicle if –
(i) any freight or luggage being carried on the vehicle is not safely stowed; or
(ii) any aisle, entrance or emergency exit on the vehicle is obstructed by freight or luggage;
(h) to ensure that the driver holds a valid ancillary certificate issued under the Vehicle and Traffic Act 1999 , or a like authority issued under a corresponding law of another State or a Territory, authorising the holder to drive a public passenger vehicle;
(2) The following are the duties of an on-demand driver when providing an on-demand passenger transport service:
(a) to only stand for hire in a taxi zone if that taxi zone is specified on the taxi licence of the vehicle that the driver is operating in the course of providing the service;
(b) not to charge a fare if there are no passengers in the vehicle;
(c) if the on-demand driver is operating a luxury hire car or restricted hire vehicle, to ensure that agreement has been reached with a passenger using the service, before the service commences, as to the fare for the hire of the vehicle that the driver is operating;
(d) to ensure that the vehicle displays any sign, symbol, label or notice required to be displayed in relation to such a service under any Act;
(e) to produce for inspection any document that is required by the Commission to be carried in the vehicle, on the request of the Commission or an authorised officer.
(3) The following are the duties of a taxi driver when providing a taxi service:
(a) to either commence or conclude, or commence and conclude, a hiring within the taxi area specified on the taxi licence under which the taxi that the driver is operating is providing the service;
(b) when the taxi that the driver is operating is in a taxi zone, to stand the taxi in the foremost vacant space within that zone;
(c) not to leave the taxi that the driver is operating unattended in a taxi zone without reasonable grounds for doing so;
(d) not to prevent another taxi from leaving a taxi zone;
(e) not to advise a person that the person is required to hire the taxi standing in the foremost space within the taxi zone;
(f) subject to regulation 20 , not to advise a person that a wheelchair-accessible taxi, remote area wheelchair-accessible taxi or substitute wheelchair-accessible taxi is not able to be hired without a wheelchair passenger;
(g) not to operate a taxi in a taxi zone if the required equipment is not installed in or on the taxi;
(h) to start the taximeter installed in the taxi that the driver is operating at the commencement of the hiring period and not before;
(i) to stop the taximeter installed in the taxi that the driver is operating, or operate it to hold the reading constant, at the conclusion of the hiring period;
(j) to ensure that a wheelchair carried in a wheelchair-accessible taxi that the driver is operating is restrained in the wheelchair restraint assembly installed in the taxi;
(k) not to permit a person to ride in or on the taxi that the driver is operating without the consent of the hirer of the taxi;
(l) in undertaking a hiring, to travel by either the route nominated by the passenger or, if no route is nominated, the most direct route that may reasonably be used from the point at which the taxi was hired to the destination stated by the passenger;
(m) not to operate a taxi while the taximeter installed in that taxi is displaying a fare other than that specified, by a taxi fare order, to apply to the taxi;
(n) not to charge a passenger –
(i) more than the fare displayed in accordance with paragraph (m) ; or
(ii) a fare at a concession rate if the passenger cannot show evidence that the passenger is a member of a transport concession scheme administered by the Department, or an equivalent transport scheme of another State or a Territory;
(o) to stop the taximeter for any period during travel during which the taxi is delayed because of any of the following causes:
(i) a lack of fuel for the taxi;
(ii) a mechanical breakdown of the taxi;
(iii) a traffic accident involving the taxi;
(iv) the lawful closure of a bridge, if the closure was publicly notified in a newspaper before the hiring period;
(v) the directions or actions of a police officer who is investigating the commission or possible commission of an offence involving the driver or the taxi;
(vi) an event that the driver, with reasonable foresight, could have prevented or avoided;
(p) to reset the taximeter by removing the record of the hire period at the conclusion of the hire period.
19
Obligation to accept hire or pick up passengers
19 Obligation to accept hire or pick up passengers
(1) Subject to the lawful exercise of powers under Division 2 of Part 4 , the driver of a taxi, when providing a taxi service must accept a hiring while the taxi is in a taxi zone within the taxi area specified on the taxi licence for the taxi –
(a) whether or not the taxi is occupying at the time of the hiring the foremost space within that zone; and
(b) if the taxi is a wheelchair-accessible taxi, whether or not the hiring includes the transport of a person in a wheelchair, subject to regulation 20 .
Penalty: Fine not exceeding 5 penalty units.
(2) Subject to the lawful exercise of powers under Division 2 of Part 4 , and the safety restrictions under regulation 21 , the driver of a vehicle providing a regular passenger service must stop the vehicle providing the service, if safe to do so, and pick up any person indicating to the driver that the person wishes to travel on the vehicle.
Penalty: Fine not exceeding 10 penalty units.
20
Obligation to give priority to wheelchair passenger
20 Obligation to give priority to wheelchair passenger
Subject to the lawful exercise of powers under regulation 29 , the driver of a wheelchair-accessible vehicle operated in accordance with a licence must give priority, all other circumstances being equal, to a hiring that includes the transport of a person in a wheelchair.
Penalty: Fine not exceeding 5 penalty units.
21
Obligation in respect of safety on standing and parking
21 Obligation in respect of safety on standing and parking
A driver must not stand, or park, a vehicle providing a passenger transport service to pick up or set down passengers, or cause or allow a vehicle providing a passenger transport service to stand or park for that purpose, if by so doing the driver would be likely to –
(a) create an unreasonable risk to the safety of –
(i) the passengers being picked up or set down; or
(ii) the driver of, or other passengers on, the vehicle; or
(iii) other persons who may lawfully use that street, whether in other vehicles or as pedestrians; or
(b) unreasonably disrupt the lawful movement of traffic.
Penalty: Fine not exceeding 25 penalty units.
22
Obligations in relation to fares
22 Obligations in relation to fares
(1) A person must only use a passenger transport service if –
(a) the person has paid any required fare for the service or holds a ticket that entitles the person to travel on the service at that time and for the journey that the person is making; or
(b) the person is a person, or is a member of a class of persons, approved by the Commission, who is not required to pay a fare to use the service at that time and for the journey that the person is making; or
(a) holds a valid pass, issued or approved by the Commission, entitling the person to travel without paying a fare on the vehicle being used to provide the service at that time and for the journey that the person is making; or
(b) is a schoolchild and the service being provided is a school bus service that, under the terms of the contract with the Secretary in relation to the service, does not require passengers to pay fares.
(3) A person using a passenger transport service must, if requested by the driver of a vehicle in relation to the service, provide evidence that the passenger has paid any required fare or holds a ticket or pass that entitles the person to travel on the vehicle.
Penalty: Fine not exceeding 10 penalty units.
(4) A person who seeks to pay a fare at a concession rate must –
(a) in relation to –
(i) a regular passenger transport service, if requested by the driver of a vehicle in relation to the service, show evidence that the passenger is eligible to travel at the concession rate calculated in accordance with the statewide fare structure; and
(ii) travel in a taxi, if requested by the driver of the taxi, provide evidence that the passenger is a member of a transport concession scheme administered by the Department, or an equivalent transport scheme of another State or a Territory; and
(b) not attempt to provide evidence required under paragraph (a) by means of evidence that another person is eligible to so travel, or is a member of such a scheme.
Penalty: Fine not exceeding 10 penalty units.
22A
Obligation to scan at beginning and end of journey
22A Obligation to scan at beginning and end of journey
(1) A person who makes payment in relation to a journey on a regular passenger service by one of the following payment methods must not, without reasonable excuse, fail to scan the payment method at the time of commencing, and at the time of ceasing, the journey on that service:
(a) a ticket;
(b) a contactless payment method.
Penalty: Fine not exceeding 10 penalty units.
(2) Subregulation (1) does not apply to a person, or a class of persons, who the Secretary has determined need not scan the payment method in relation to the vehicle being used to provide the service at that time and for the journey that the person is making.
23
Obligation to comply with requirement or direction
23 Obligation to comply with requirement or direction
A person must comply with a requirement or direction given to that person under Division 2 or 3 of Part 4 unless to do so would be unreasonable in the circumstances as the person reasonably believes them to be.
(2) A person must not travel, or attempt to travel, on a passenger transport service from which the person has been disallowed in accordance with regulation 27 .
Penalty: Fine not exceeding 20 penalty units.
(3) A person travelling on or in a vehicle providing a passenger transport service must not –
(a) do anything to endanger the safety of –
(i) himself or herself; or
(ii) another person; or
(iii) the vehicle; or
(b) threaten, harass or attempt to intimidate another person; or
(c) wilfully obstruct or hinder another person; or
(d) wilfully disturb the comfort or convenience of another person; or
(e) soil, damage or deface –
(i) the vehicle; or
(ii) any of the vehicle's fittings; or
(iii) the property of another person; or
(f) behave in an offensive or indecent manner; or
(g) use any profane, indecent, obscene or offensive language; or
(h) throw anything inside, or from, the vehicle.
Penalty: Fine not exceeding 20 penalty units.
(4) A person travelling on or in a vehicle providing a passenger transport service must not –
(a) smoke; or
(b) consume alcohol; or
(c) possess an open container of alcohol; or
(d) litter; or
(e) have an animal on board the vehicle, unless –
(i) the animal is permitted by law; or
(ii) the driver of the vehicle and all other passengers in or on the vehicle consent to the presence of the animal on board the vehicle; or
(f) place the person’s feet on the seats of the vehicle; or
(g) spit on any part of the vehicle; or
(h) play an instrument; or
(i) busk.
Penalty: Fine not exceeding 10 penalty units.
(5) Subject to subregulation (6) , a person travelling as a passenger on a vehicle providing a regular passenger service must –
(a) if no other seat is available on the vehicle, vacate a seat or offer to vacate a seat for –
(i) a person who appears to have a disability or injury; or
(ii) an elderly person; or
(iii) a person who is visibly pregnant; or
(iv) a person accompanying a child less than 5 years of age; or
(v) any other person who appears to have special needs; and
(b) in the case of seating areas intended for use by a wheelchair passenger, vacate, or offer to vacate, a seat in that area in order for a wheelchair passenger to be accommodated.
Penalty: Fine not exceeding 10 penalty units.
(6) Subregulation (5) does not apply to the first-mentioned passenger on a vehicle providing a regular passenger service who is referred to in the paragraphs of that subregulation.
(7) A person travelling as a passenger on a vehicle providing a regular passenger service must not do any of the following without the permission of the driver of the vehicle or an authorised officer:
(a) eat or drink other than water, unless eating or drinking for a clear, or diagnosed, medical reason;
(b) occupy more than one seat;
(c) sell or distribute, or attempt to sell or distribute, anything;
(d) display, or attempt to display, any sign;
(e) affix, or attempt to affix, anything to the vehicle.
Penalty: Fine not exceeding 10 penalty units.
25
Interference with vehicle or equipment
25 Interference with vehicle or equipment
(1) A person must not interfere, or cause or permit another person to interfere, with a vehicle that is being used to provide a passenger transport service.
Penalty: Fine not exceeding 5 penalty units.
(2) A person must not interfere, or cause or permit another person to interfere, without lawful excuse, with required equipment installed in a vehicle that is being used to provide a passenger transport service.
Penalty: Fine not exceeding 5 penalty units.
(3) The relevant operator in relation to a licence must ensure that any device or system installed in a vehicle, or any modification made to a vehicle, that is being operated under the authority of the licence does not –
(a) interfere with the operation of the required equipment installed in the vehicle; or
(b) enable the normal operation of the required equipment to be overridden.
Penalty: Fine not exceeding 5 penalty units.
(4) A person must not, under the authority of a licence, operate a vehicle that is modified or fitted with a device or system that –
(a) interferes with the operation of the required equipment installed in the vehicle; or
(b) enables the normal operation of the required equipment to be overridden.
Penalty: Fine not exceeding 5 penalty units.
26
Offences in respect of licence number plates
26 Offences in respect of licence number plates
An accredited operator, or relevant person, in respect of a licence, must –
(ii) the licence with which the licence number plate is associated is suspended or cancelled.
Penalty: Fine not exceeding 5 penalty units.
Part 4
Powers
Part 4 Powers
27
Powers of operator
27 Powers of operator
(1) The accredited operator of a passenger transport service may disallow a person from travelling on a vehicle providing the service if –
(a) the person has breached the Act, these regulations or a condition imposed under regulation 28 ; and
(b) the person has failed to comply with a requirement or direction given to that person under Division 2 or 3 in respect of the behaviour that is causing, or has caused, the breach.
(2) On disallowing a person from travelling on a vehicle providing a passenger transport service, the accredited operator of that service must notify –
(b) if the accredited operator of the passenger transport service operates more than one passenger transport service, which passenger transport services the person is unable to travel on while the notice is in effect; and
(c) if the disallowance applies to one or more specific vehicles that are used to operate the passenger transport service, the registration number, issued under the Vehicle and Traffic Act 1999 , of each vehicle on which the person is unable to travel while the notice is in effect; and
(d) the period for which the person will be unable to travel on the specified passenger transport services or on the specified vehicle.
(a) if the notice is in respect of a first disallowance of the person, must not exceed 3 months; and
(b) if the notice is in respect of a second or subsequent disallowance of the person, must not exceed 6 months.
28
Operator may impose conditions
28 Operator may impose conditions
(1) Subject to this regulation, an accredited operator of a passenger transport service may make travelling on that passenger transport service subject to any condition that the accredited operator thinks appropriate.
(2) A condition imposed under subregulation (1) may relate to, but is not limited to, the following matters:
(a) restrictions on eating and drinking;
(b) standards of behaviour while travelling;
(c) personal hygiene;
(d) disposal of litter;
(e) restrictions on noise levels and type of noise;
(f) carriage of goods and luggage;
(g) occupation of seats.
(3) A condition imposed under subregulation (1) must not be inconsistent with the Act but may cover any area not covered by the Act.
(4) The accredited operator of a passenger transport service must –
(a) if practicable, display a copy of each condition of travel on the passenger transport service, imposed under subregulation (1) , in a prominent location inside the vehicle used to provide the passenger transport service; or
(b) if such a display is impracticable, ensure that a such a copy is available on request.
Penalty: Fine not exceeding 5 penalty units.
29
Powers in relation to fares
29 Powers in relation to fares
The driver of a vehicle that is being used to provide a passenger transport service may exercise any of the following powers in relation to a passenger on or in that vehicle:
(a) to require the passenger to produce evidence in the form of a ticket or pass that entitles the passenger to travel on the vehicle at that time and for the journey that the person has made or is apparently making;
(b) if the passenger seeks to travel on a fare at a concession rate, to require the passenger to show evidence that the passenger is eligible to travel at the concession rate;
(c) if the driver reasonably believes that the passenger has not paid the correct fare for the journey that the passenger has made, or is apparently making, to require that passenger to pay that fare or, if applicable, the amount of that fare that is outstanding.
30
Power to require movement within vehicle
30 Power to require movement within vehicle
The driver of a vehicle that is being used to provide a passenger transport service may require a passenger to move within the vehicle if the passenger is –
(a) obstructing the entrance or exit of the vehicle; or
(b) causing, by their position within the vehicle, danger or discomfort to the passenger or another person; or
(c) inhibiting the use, by a wheelchair passenger, of facilities of the vehicle intended for use by a wheelchair passenger.
31
Power to require name and address
31 Power to require name and address
The driver of a vehicle that is being used to provide a passenger transport service may require the passenger to state the passenger's name and address, if –
(a) the driver reasonably believes that the passenger is breaching, or is likely to breach, a condition imposed under regulation 28 ; or
(b) the driver reasonably believes that the passenger is committing, or is likely to commit, an offence under the Act or these regulations; or
(c) in the case of a vehicle being used to provide a passenger transport service that is not a regular passenger service contracted by the Secretary under section 44 , 45 or 46 of the Act, the person has indicated that he or she wishes to travel on the vehicle but pay for that travel at a later time.
32
Power to direct cessation of behaviour
32 Power to direct cessation of behaviour
The driver of a vehicle that is being used to provide a passenger transport service may –
(a) if the driver reasonably believes that a passenger is breaching a condition imposed under regulation 28 , direct the passenger to cease breaching that condition; and
(b) if the driver reasonably believes that a passenger is committing an offence under the Act or these regulations, direct the passenger to cease committing that offence.
33
Power to direct – general
33 Power to direct – general
(1) The driver of a vehicle that is being used to provide a passenger transport service may direct a passenger to leave, or not to enter, the vehicle if –
(a) in the opinion of the driver, the passenger, or any items accompanying the passenger cannot be safely carried on or in the vehicle; or
(b) to allow the person to travel on the vehicle would breach a condition of –
(i) an authorisation under which a regular passenger service is operating; or
(ii) a passenger service contract under which a regular passenger service is operating; or
(c) the person is the subject of a notice given in accordance with regulation 27(2) that is in effect; or
(d) the vehicle or a compartment of the vehicle has already reached operational capacity.
(2) The driver of a vehicle that is being used to provide a passenger transport service may give any direction to a passenger if the driver reasonably believes that the direction is necessary to ensure the safety or security of the passengers or the driver in respect of the passenger transport service.
34
Power to direct to leave – breach of requirement, direction or disallowance
34 Power to direct to leave – breach of requirement, direction or disallowance
(1) The driver of a vehicle that is being used to provide a passenger transport service may direct a passenger to leave, or not to enter, the vehicle if –
(a) the driver –
(i) has made a requirement or given a direction under regulation 29 , 30 , 31 or 32 in respect of the passenger; or
(ii) reasonably believes that an authorised officer has made a requirement or given a direction under regulation 38 , 39 , 40 or 41 in respect of the passenger; and
(b) the passenger has failed to comply with the requirement or direction; and
(c) the driver reasonably believes that the passenger may continue to commit the behaviour to which the requirement or direction relates.
(2) The driver of a vehicle that is being used to provide a passenger transport service may direct a passenger to leave, or not to enter, the vehicle if the driver reasonably believes that the passenger is subject to a disallowance in force under regulation 27 .
(3) A driver must not give a direction under subregulation (1) that is inconsistent with any direction of the Commission concerning the transport of schoolchildren on regular passenger services.
35
Power to direct to leave – fares
35 Power to direct to leave – fares
The driver of a vehicle that is being used to provide a passenger transport service may direct a passenger to leave, or not to enter, the vehicle if, in the opinion of the driver, the person is unable, refusing, or has refused, to pay the correct fare that would entitle the passenger to travel on the vehicle at that time and for the journey that the person has made or is apparently making, unless to do so would be inconsistent with any direction of the Commission concerning the transport of schoolchildren on regular passenger services.
36
Exercise of powers subject to safety
36 Exercise of powers subject to safety
A driver is not to make a requirement or give a direction under this Division if to do so would contravene regulation 21 .
37
Use and return of evidence
37 Use and return of evidence
If a driver requests that a passenger provide evidence under this Division, the driver –
(a) may use the evidence to check that the passenger –
(i) has paid any required fare or holds a ticket or pass that entitles the person to travel on the vehicle; or
(ii) is eligible to travel on a fare at a concession rate; and
(b) is to immediately return the evidence to the passenger after checking or viewing the evidence.
revenue protection device means a device that is used to electronically read or scan a ticket or contactless payment method to determine whether that ticket or contactless payment method has been validly used to pay a fare in relation to a journey on a vehicle being used to provide a regular passenger service.
(2) An authorised officer may exercise any of the following powers in relation to a passenger on or in a vehicle being used to provide a passenger transport service:
(a) to require the passenger to produce evidence that entitles the passenger to travel on the vehicle –
(i) at that time; and
(ii) for the journey that the person has made or is apparently making;
(b) if the passenger seeks to travel on a fare at a concession rate, to require the passenger to show evidence that the passenger is eligible to travel at the concession rate;
(c) if the authorised officer reasonably believes that the passenger has not paid the correct fare for the journey that the passenger has made or is apparently making, to require that passenger to pay –
(i) that fare; or
(ii) if applicable, the amount of that fare that is outstanding.
(3) For the purposes of subregulation (2)(a) , producing evidence in relation to a journey includes –
(a) producing a valid ticket or pass that entitles the passenger to travel on the vehicle at that time and for that journey; and
(b) doing everything reasonably necessary to allow the authorised officer to use a revenue protection device on a contactless payment method purported to have been used to pay the fare in relation to the journey.
39
Power to require movement within vehicle
39 Power to require movement within vehicle
An authorised officer may require a passenger to move within a vehicle being used to provide a passenger transport service if the passenger –
(a) is obstructing the entrance or exit of the vehicle; or
(b) is causing, by their position within the vehicle, danger or discomfort to the passenger or another person; or
(c) has failed to vacate, or offer to vacate, a seat in that area in order for a wheelchair passenger to be accommodated.
40
Power to require name and address
40 Power to require name and address
An authorised officer may require a passenger on a vehicle being used to provide a passenger transport service to state the passenger's name and address, if –
(a) the authorised officer reasonably believes that the passenger is breaching, or is likely to breach, a condition imposed under regulation 28 ; or
(b) the authorised officer reasonably believes that the passenger is committing, or is likely to commit, an offence under the Act or these regulations.
41
Power to direct cessation of behaviour
41 Power to direct cessation of behaviour
An authorised officer on a vehicle that is being used to provide a passenger transport service may –
(a) if the authorised officer reasonably believes that a passenger on that vehicle is breaching a condition imposed under regulation 28 , direct the passenger to cease breaching that condition; and
(b) if the authorised officer reasonably believes that a passenger on that vehicle is committing an offence under the Act or these regulations, direct the passenger to cease committing that offence.
42
Power to direct – general
42 Power to direct – general
(1) An authorised officer on a vehicle that is being used to provide a passenger transport service may direct a passenger to leave, or not to enter, the vehicle if –
(a) in the opinion of the authorised officer, the passenger, or any items accompanying the passenger, cannot be carried safely on or in the vehicle; or
(b) to allow the person to travel on the vehicle would breach a condition of –
(i) an authorisation under which a regular passenger service is operating; or
(ii) a passenger service contract under which a regular passenger service is operating; or
(c) the person is the subject of a notice given in accordance with regulation 27(2) that is in effect; or
(d) the vehicle or a compartment of the vehicle has already reached operational capacity.
(2) An authorised officer on a vehicle that is being used to provide a passenger transport service may give any direction to a passenger if the authorised officer reasonably believes that the direction is necessary to ensure the safety or security of the passengers or the driver in respect of the passenger transport service.
43
Power to direct to leave – breach of requirement, direction or disallowance
43 Power to direct to leave – breach of requirement, direction or disallowance
(1) An authorised officer on a vehicle that is being used to provide a passenger transport service may direct a passenger to leave, or not to enter, the vehicle if –
(a) the authorised officer –
(i) has made a requirement or given a direction under regulation 38 , 39 , 40 or 41 in respect of the passenger; or
(ii) reasonably believes that the driver of the vehicle has made a requirement or given a direction under regulation 29 , 30 , 31 or 32 in respect of the passenger; and
(b) the passenger has failed to comply with the requirement or direction; and
(c) the authorised officer reasonably believes that the passenger may continue to commit the behaviour to which the requirement or direction relates.
(2) An authorised officer on a vehicle that is being used to provide a passenger transport service may direct a passenger to leave, or not to enter, the vehicle if the authorised officer reasonably believes that the passenger is subject to a disallowance in force under regulation 27 .
(3) An authorised officer must not give a direction under subregulation (1) that is inconsistent with any direction of the Commission concerning the transport of schoolchildren on regular passenger services.
44
Power to direct to leave – fares
44 Power to direct to leave – fares
An authorised officer on a vehicle that is being used to provide a passenger transport service may direct a passenger to leave, or not to enter, the vehicle if, in the opinion of the authorised officer, the person is unable, refusing, or has refused, to pay the correct fare that would entitle the passenger to travel on the vehicle at that time and for the journey that the person has made or is apparently making, unless to do so would be inconsistent with any direction of the Commission concerning the transport of schoolchildren on regular passenger services.
45
Exercise of powers subject to safety
45 Exercise of powers subject to safety
An authorised officer is not to make a requirement or give a direction under this Division if to do so would contravene regulation 21 .
46
Use and return of evidence
46 Use and return of evidence
If an authorised officer requests that a passenger provide evidence under this Division, the authorised officer –
(a) may use the evidence to check that the passenger –
(i) has paid any required fare or holds a ticket or pass that entitles the person to travel on the vehicle; or
(ii) is eligible to travel on a fare at a concession rate; and
(b) is to immediately return the evidence to the passenger after checking or viewing the evidence.
Division 4
Power of police officer
Division 4 Power of police officer
47
Power of police officer
47 Power of police officer
A police officer, using only such force as may reasonably be necessary in the circumstances, may remove a person from a vehicle providing a passenger transport service if the police officer is satisfied, on reasonable grounds, that the person has committed or is committing an offence under the Act, the Taxi and Hire Vehicle Industries Act 2008 or these regulations.
Part 5
Miscellaneous
Part 5 Miscellaneous
48
Evidentiary certificates relating to security camera recordings in respect of on-demand passenger transport service
48 Evidentiary certificates relating to security camera recordings in respect of on-demand passenger transport service
(1) In this regulation –
delivery certificate means a certificate stating the following particulars:
(a) that a copy of the video recording downloaded on the date specified in the certificate from a security camera system, identified by make and serial number in the certificate, was kept at a place specified in the certificate during the period specified in the certificate;
(b) that at a time and place specified in the certificate, the video recording was delivered to the police officer, or the authorised officer, specified by name in the certificate, by the person providing the certificate;
downloading certificate means a certificate stating any or all of the following particulars:
(a) that at a specified time and place a person downloaded a video recording from a security camera system installed in a vehicle that is used, or intended for use, to provide an on-demand passenger transport service;
(b) the make and serial number of the security camera system from which the video recording was downloaded;
(c) the registration number of the vehicle in which the security camera system was installed;
(d) that, at the time when the video recording was downloaded, the downloading of the recording was lawful;
(e) that the equipment used to download the recording was in proper working order at the time when the recording was downloaded;
(f) that the downloading of the video recording was done in accordance with the Act;
(g) that the recording is an accurate and complete duplication of the recording made by the security camera system.
(2) A downloading certificate is prima facie evidence –
(a) of the particulars stated in the certificate; and
(b) that the security camera system used to record, and the equipment used to download, the video recording was in proper working order.
(3) A delivery certificate is prima facie evidence of the particulars stated in the certificate.
(a) an offence against a provision of the Act or regulations specified in column 2 of a table in Schedule 3 is prescribed to be an infringement offence for which an infringement notice may be issued; and
(b) the penalty specified in –
(i) column 3 of a table in Schedule 3 for that infringement offence is prescribed as the penalty applicable to that infringement offence that is payable by an individual under an infringement notice; and
(ii) column 4 of a table in Schedule 3 for that infringement offence is prescribed as the penalty applicable, if any, to that infringement offence that is payable by a body corporate under an infringement notice.
(2) Records kept in accordance with the former regulations immediately before the commencement of these regulations are taken to be records kept for the purposes of these regulations.
(3) Written instructions in relation to the display of accreditation issued under regulation 7 of the former regulations, immediately before the commencement of these regulations, continue in force until written instructions are issued under regulation 9 of these regulations.
(4) Any matters specified by the Commission under regulation 10D of the former regulations to be identified, under a condition in respect of a risk management system placed on an accreditation immediately before the commencement of these regulations, are taken to be matters specified under regulation 13 of these regulations.
(5) If the accredited operator of a passenger transport service has refused to permit a person to travel on a vehicle providing the service under regulation 12 of the former regulations, and that refusal is in force immediately before the commencement of these regulations, the refusal is taken to be a disallowance under regulation 27(1) for the period specified in the written notice issued under regulation 12(2)(c) of the former regulations in relation to the refusal.
The operational capacity of a vehicle being used to provide a passenger transport service is the sum of its operational seating capacity as determined under clause 2 to this Schedule and its operational standing capacity as determined under clause 3 to this Schedule.
2. Operational seating capacity
(1) In this clause –
compliant seatbelt means a seatbelt that complies with the relevant second edition ADR or third edition ADR;
(2) Subject to subclause (3) or (4) , the operational seating capacity of a vehicle being used to provide a passenger transport service is equal to its adult seating capacity, as specified in the record of motor vehicles kept under the Vehicle and Traffic Act 1999 with the following qualifications:
(a) any 3 children being carried on that passenger transport service are to be counted as 2 passengers if none of those children has attained the age of 10 years and the seating positions on the vehicle –
(i) are not fitted with seatbelts; or
(ii) are fitted with compliant seatbelts that are designed specifically to convert from 2 adult seating positions to 3 child seating positions;
(b) a child being carried on that passenger transport service need not be counted as a passenger if the child has not attained the age of 5 years and is being carried on the lap of another person.
(3) The Commission may determine, having regard to the condition of the route and other relevant factors, that the operational seating capacity of a vehicle used to provide a regular passenger service should be less than the seating capacity determined under subclause (2) .
(4) If the Commission gives the accredited operator of a regular passenger service written notice of the making of a determination under subclause (3) in respect of a vehicle, the operational seating capacity of that vehicle when it is being used to provide the service is the seating capacity determined by the Commission under that subclause.
3. Operational standing capacity
(1) In this clause –
holding device means an approved strap, approved handgrip or other approved device for providing support for standing passengers on passenger transport services;
prescribed vehicle means a vehicle providing a passenger transport service that has –
(a) a distance between floor and roof, at each point where a passenger may stand upright, of at least 1.8m; and
(b) an aisle width of at least 380mm; and
(c) a holding device for each standing passenger.
(2) The standing capacity of a prescribed vehicle is the same as the number of holding devices fitted to the vehicle but is not in any case greater than one person for each 1 600cm2 of unobstructed floor space.
(3) The standing capacity of a vehicle providing a passenger transport service that is not a prescribed vehicle is zero.
(4) Subject to subclauses (5) and (6) , the operational standing capacity of a vehicle is the same as its standing capacity.
(5) The Commission may determine, having regard to the length of the route and the normal operating speed and other relevant factors, that the operational standing capacity of a prescribed vehicle used to provide a regular passenger service should be less than the vehicle's standing capacity.
(6) If the Commission gives the accredited operator of a regular passenger service written notice of the making of a determination under subclause (5) in respect of a prescribed vehicle, the operational standing capacity of that vehicle when it is being used to provide that service is the operational standing capacity determined by the Commission under that subclause.
| Item | Matter for which fee is payable | Fee(Fee units) |
| 1. | Application to become an accredited operator for a passenger transport service | 79 |
| 2. | Application to become a booking service provider in relation to an on-demand passenger transport service | 424 |
| 3. | Application to become an affiliated operator in relation to a booking service provider | 79 |
| 4. | Application to become an accredited operator for a hire and drive passenger service | 79 |
| 5. | Application to provide a regular passenger service | 79 |
| 6. | Application to vary conditions of accreditation | 50 |
| 7. | Application to update who is the relevant person for an accreditation | 50 |
| 8. | Issue of revised accreditation certificate | 20 |
Sourced from Tasmanian Legislation Online (legislation.tas.gov.au), CC BY 4.0.
Part 1 Preliminary
Part 1 Preliminary
1 Short title
1 Short title
These regulations may be cited as the Passenger Transport Services Regulations 2023 .
2 Commencement
2 Commencement
These regulations take effect on 26 June 2023.
3 Interpretation
3 Interpretation
(1) In these regulations –
Act means the Passenger Transport Services Act 2011 ;
[Regulation 3 Subregulation (1) amended by S.R. 2025, No. 65, Applied:10 Dec 2025]contactless payment method means –
(a) a debit or credit card issued by an authorised deposit-taking institution; or
(b) a physical or electronic card or token issued by the department responsible for the administration of the Act; or
(c) another device or item –
capable of being used to make payment for a fare by means of a reader;
fare at a concession rate includes a fare calculated in accordance with a taxi subsidy program under a transport concession scheme administered by the Department;
hiring period means the period between such time as a taxi that has been hired is put in motion until the time when the taxi comes to a stop at the destination;
on-demand driver means a driver of a vehicle used for the provision of an on-demand passenger transport service;
operational capacity, in respect of a vehicle, means the operational capacity of the vehicle as determined under Schedule 1 ;
[Regulation 3 Subregulation (1) amended by S.R. 2025, No. 65, Applied:10 Dec 2025] means an approved device that –
Provides evidentiary certificates for security camera download/ delivery for on‑demand services (regulation 48).
Prescribes fees for applications and variations (Schedule 2; regulation 50) and declares which offences are infringement notice offences and the infringement penalties (Schedule 3; regulation 51).
The Regulations therefore operationalise the Act’s regulatory framework for passenger transport by specifying definitions, duties, record and reporting obligations, enforcement powers, fees and infringement penalties. The instrument centralises decision and discretion with the Commission in a number of respects, for example its power to determine operational capacity or to require risk management systems as a condition of accreditation (Schedule 1 cl 2-3; regulation 13). The mechanics create compliance costs (records, signage and equipment), recurring application fees (Schedule 2) and specified penalty exposure (numerous regulations and Schedule 3). The Commission and authorised officers are the primary decision‑makers and enforcers under the Regulations (see regulations 9, 11(2), 12, 13, 27-28, 38-46 and Schedule 3).
Main concepts
The Regulations import and standardise a set of technical and operational concepts that the Act relies on. Key definitional and conceptual nodes include:
Contactless payment method, ticket and reader: The Regulations adopt a functional definition of contactless payment , debit/credit cards, departmental cards/tokens, or other devices that operate via a reader , and define "scan" as holding the ticket/payment method in front of a reader until the reader indicates acceptance (regulation 3(1), amended by S.R. 2025 No. 65). "Ticket" expressly includes electronic tickets/tokens (regulation 3(1)). Those definitions support the revenue‑protection and scanning regime (regulations 22, 22A, 38).
Relevant person and required equipment: "Relevant person" identifies who is responsible for a vehicle for regulatory purposes (regulation 3(1)). "Required equipment" is equipment, notices, signs or labels installed in accordance with the Taxi and Hire Vehicle Industries Act 2008 (regulation 3(1)). Regulation 25 then makes it an offence to interfere with required equipment and requires relevant operators to ensure equipment or modifications do not interfere with normally required equipment.
Operational capacity: Schedule 1 defines "operational capacity" as the sum of operational seating capacity and operational standing capacity (Schedule 1 cl 1). Operational seating capacity starts from the adult seating capacity recorded under the Vehicle and Traffic Act 1999 register but is subject to qualifications for children, lap children and allows the Commission to determine a lower seating capacity based on route condition (Schedule 1 cl 2-3). Standing capacity is defined for "prescribed vehicles" with specific floor/roof height, aisle width and holding devices, and otherwise zero (Schedule 1 cl 3).
Accreditation and booking service provider: Regulation 8 lists the fields the accreditation register must contain, including whether an accredited operator is a booking service provider and details of affiliated operators (regulation 8). Regulation 6 prescribes who counts as a booking service provider (e.g. a person who provides taxi dispatch in a non‑remote taxi area, or who permits ride‑sourcing drivers to operate via ride‑sourcing software) and specifies persons who are not booking service providers (community transport services, councils, tuition providers, certain licence holders who both arrange bookings and use dispatch services, etc.) (regulation 6).
Powers and enforcement concepts: The Regulations delineate distinct enforcement actors , drivers, authorised officers and police , and the specific powers each may exercise (evidence, direction to leave, request name and address, require movement within vehicle, revenue protection checks using “revenue protection devices”, and removal) (regulations 29-47). The Commission retains administrative powers (conditions on accreditation, determinations about capacity, risk management conditions) (regulation 13; Schedule 1).
Recordkeeping and evidentiary mechanism for cameras: Detailed records for on‑demand services are prescribed (regulation 10), together with a statutory evidentiary certificate regime for video download and delivery (regulation 48). A "downloading certificate" and "delivery certificate" are made prima facie evidence of particular matters about the recording, download and chain of custody (regulation 48(2)-(3)).
These concepts interact: for example operational capacity affects drivers’ powers to refuse entry (regulation 33(1)(d)) and the obligation to display capacity in vehicles (regulation 15(2)); the contactless/ticket definitions feed into the new obligation to scan at commencement and cessation of journeys (regulation 22A) and the revenue protection powers of authorised officers (regulation 38). The Regulations create clear statutory links to other vehicle and taxi legislation (regulation 3(2)), so many concepts are deliberately anchored to records or certificates produced under other Acts (Vehicle and Traffic Act 1999, Taxi and Hire Vehicle Industries Act 2008).
Who it affects
The Regulations allocate duties, costs and decision rights to particular categories of actors. The principal groups affected are:
Accredited operators: Numerous obligations attach to accredited operators. They must keep and maintain detailed records for on‑demand services (regulation 10), comply with display instructions about accreditation (regulation 9), ensure vehicles comply with vehicle specifications and required equipment (regulation 17(3)-(4)), observe duties in relation to on‑demand drivers (regulation 17(7)), and can impose travel conditions (regulation 28). Accredited operators are also the subject of Commission‑imposed conditions such as the requirement to maintain a risk management system (regulation 13) and may be persons required to be registered as booking service providers (regulation 6).
Booking service providers and affiliated operators: The Regulations prescribe who is a booking service provider and who is not (regulation 6). Booking service providers must retain monthly vehicle registration records (regulation 11), can be recorded in the accreditation register (regulation 8(i)-(j)) and may be liable under records and reporting obligations (regulation 10 and regulation 11).
Drivers (on‑demand drivers, taxi drivers): Drivers acquire specific statutory duties (regulation 18). On‑demand drivers have obligations including fare agreement rules for luxury hires and display of required signs (regulation 18(2)). Taxi drivers carry particular rules about taxi zones, taximeter operation, wheelchair restraint and route choice (regulation 18(3)). Drivers also hold powers to direct passengers to leave and to require evidence or payment (regulations 29-36).
Relevant persons and licence holders: The term "relevant person" determines who is responsible for regulatory compliance in relation to a vehicle (regulation 3), and relevant persons must ensure licence number plates are properly affixed and not misused (regulation 26).
Passengers: The Regulations impose obligations on passengers to pay fares or hold tickets (regulation 22), to scan contactless/ticket payment methods at the beginning and end of journeys where required (regulation 22A), and to comply with behavioural rules (regulation 24). Passengers may be disallowed by operators (regulation 27) and directed to leave by drivers, authorised officers or police (regulations 33-47).
Commission and authorised officers: The Commission is the primary regulator with powers to set standards, impose conditions on accreditation, determine operational capacities and request records (regulation 13; Schedule 1; regulation 11(2)). Authorised officers are given inspection, evidence and direction powers (regulations 38-46) and can use "revenue protection devices" to check contactless tickets (regulation 38). The Commission also controls administrative reviewability by declaring certain Commission decisions to be administrative decisions (regulation 49).
Police: Police retain a power to remove persons from vehicles where offences occur, using reasonable force only as necessary (regulation 47).
Economically, the direct cost carriers under the Regulations are accredited operators and booking service providers because of record‑keeping, equipment and fee obligations (regulations 8, 10, 11; Schedule 2). Drivers bear operational compliance responsibilities (safe stowage, taximeter operation, restraint of wheelchairs) under duties (regulation 18) and risk enforcement actions when exercising powers to require name/address or remove persons (regulations 31, 34, 47). Passengers face compliance costs in the form of scanning obligations (regulation 22A), proof obligations for concessions (regulation 22(4)) and potential infringement penalties (Schedule 3).
Key duties and rights
The Regulations impose a web of duties and grant particular powers to operators, drivers, authorised officers and police. The main duties and rights are:
Duties of accredited operators, relevant persons and licence holders (regulation 17): Operators must not, by act or omission, place the safety of drivers or passengers at unreasonable risk (regulation 17(1)). They must ensure vehicles meet specified vehicle specifications, required equipment is fitted/maintained/tested and records/reports are kept as required under the Act and these Regulations (regulation 17(3)-(5)). Accredited operators of on‑demand services must inform on‑demand drivers of duties and ensure their conduct does not encourage non‑compliance (regulation 17(7)). Operators must also ensure wheelchair‑accessible taxis undertake hirings specified in licence conditions (regulation 17(8)).
Duties of drivers (regulation 18): Drivers must not behave offensively, must provide reasonable assistance for boarding/exiting (including for wheelchair passengers) (regulation 18(1)(a)-(c)), must not set down passengers other than at the nominated destination except in enumerated circumstances (regulation 18(1)(d)), and must not discriminate against persons with assistance animals except as allowed by the Commonwealth Disability Discrimination Act (regulation 18(1)(e)). Specific on‑demand and taxi duties cover standing for hire, charging only with passengers present, fare agreement rules for luxury hire cars, display of required signs, taximeter start/stop rules, and wheelchair restraint requirements (regulation 18(2)-(3)).
Passenger obligations (regulations 22, 22A, 24): Passengers must pay fares, hold valid tickets or be exempt by Commission approval or the operator (regulation 22(1)). Regulation 22A requires persons who pay by ticket or contactless method on regular passenger services to scan at the commencement and cessation of journeys (subject to Secretary exemptions) (regulation 22A(1)-(2)). Passengers must provide evidence of payment or concession eligibility on request (regulation 22(3)-(4)). Behavioural duties such as not endangering safety, not smoking, not consuming alcohol and seat‑vacating obligations for persons with special needs are also prescribed (regulation 24).
Rights and powers of operators: Accredited operators may disallow a person from travelling if the person has breached the Act/regulations and failed to comply with directions (regulation 27(1)). Operators must notify the person of the disallowance and specify period and scope of the ban; the first disallowance period cannot exceed three months and subsequent disallowances six months (regulation 27(2)-(4)). Operators may impose travel conditions provided they are not inconsistent with the Act; obligations to display conditions inside vehicles are included (regulation 28).
Powers of drivers and authorised officers: Drivers and authorised officers have overlapping powers to require evidence of payment, to require movement within a vehicle for safety, to require name and address in certain circumstances, to direct cessation of behaviour and to direct persons to leave or not to enter (regulations 29-36 and 38-46). Authorised officers are explicitly given powers to use revenue protection devices to verify contactless/ticket use (regulation 38). These powers are framed and limited by safety constraints, e.g. directions must not contravene regulation 21 regarding safety when standing/parking (regulation 36 and 45).
Police powers (regulation 47): Police may remove a person from a vehicle using only reasonable force where satisfied on reasonable grounds that an offence under the Act, Taxi and Hire Vehicle Industries Act 2008 or these Regulations is being or has been committed.
Record and notification duties: Accredited operators must keep detailed records for on‑demand services including driver identifiers, vehicle installation/testing of required equipment, incidents resulting in injury, vehicle damage, complaints about assistance animals, policies and training records and reports produced under any Act (regulation 10). The Commission can request monthly vehicle registration records and can exempt persons (regulation 11). Specific accidents/incidents and findings are prescribed for mandatory notification to the Commission (regulation 12).
These duties and powers create a compliance architecture in which operators hold continuous administrative responsibilities and on‑road actors (drivers, authorised officers, police) hold situational enforcement powers. Administrative rights of review are preserved for decisions declared administrative by regulation 49 (discussed below).
Penalties and enforcement
The Regulations establish a mixed enforcement regime using maximum penalties, infringement notices and authorised enforcement actors. Key features are:
Maximum penalties set in regulations: Several regulations specify maximum fines expressed in penalty units. Examples include: failure to comply with duties under these regulations (regulation 16) attracts a maximum fine not exceeding 50 penalty units; operating a service exceeding operational capacity without written Commission permission is an offence carrying up to 25 penalty units (regulation 15(1)); failure to comply with a Commission instruction about evidence of accreditation carries penalty up to 10 penalty units (regulation 9(2)); failing to comply with a requirement or direction under Part 4 carries up to 50 penalty units (regulation 23). Driver and passenger behavioural offences carry lower maximum penalties, for instance regulation 24(2) (prohibition on travelling where disallowed) up to 20 penalty units, and many driver duties attract fines up to 5-25 penalty units (see regulations 17, 18 and 21).
Infringement notice catalogue (regulation 51 and Schedule 3): Regulation 51 prescribes which offences are infringement notice offences for the Act’s section 61B and sets the fixed infringement penalties in Schedule 3. Schedule 3 lists infringements against both the Act and these Regulations and provides the payable penalty in penalty units for individuals and bodies corporate. For example, under Part 2 of Schedule 3, regulation 22A(1) (failure to scan) is listed as item 11A with an individual penalty of 1.5 penalty units; regulation 23 (comply with requirement/direction) is item 12 with an individual penalty of 17 penalty units; regulation 15(1) (operating above operational capacity) is item 2 with individual 1.5 penalty units and body corporate 4.5.
Enforcement actors and powers: The Regulations allocate enforcement tasks. Authorised officers may require evidence of fare payment, use revenue protection devices to scan contactless methods and impose directions to move or disembark (regulation 38). Drivers can require payment or evidence, move passengers within vehicles and direct persons to leave (regulations 29-35). Police may remove persons using necessary reasonable force where an offence is being committed (regulation 47). Authorised officers and drivers are both constrained by safety duties (regulations 36 and 45).
Administrative consequences and review: Regulation 27 allows accredited operators to disallow persons from travelling and to specify periods of disallowance (first period not exceeding 3 months; later periods not exceeding 6 months) (regulation 27(4)). Regulation 49 declares particular Commission actions and decisions under section 61A, section 64 of the Act and regulation 9 to be administrative decisions for the Act’s review regime, which determines pathways for merits or judicial review under the Act’s framework. Regulation 48 also provides evidentiary certificates that streamline evidentiary proof for video recordings.
Evidentiary simplification: Regulation 48 creates downloading and delivery certificates that are prima facie evidence of particulars about security camera recordings and chain of custody, reducing transaction costs for enforcement and prosecution where those certificates are produced.
Enforcement thus mixes immediate on‑vehicle control (driver/authorised officer powers), administrative sanctions (disallowance decisions by operators), monetary sanctions (penalty units, both maximum penalties and infringement notices under Schedule 3), and police powers for forcible removal in the most serious cases. The Commission retains scope to set and enforce conditions on accreditation, including risk management systems and determinations that alter operational capacities (regulation 13; Schedule 1), which can trigger further compliance obligations and enforcement through the Act.
How it interacts with other laws
The Regulations are heavily cross‑referenced to the Act and other statutory regimes. The instrument is designed to operate within a broader statutory ecosystem:
Passenger Transport Services Act 2011 (the Act): The Regulations are made for the purposes of the Act and repeatedly cross‑reference the Act’s provisions (see, for example, definitions referencing the Act at regulation 3 and numerous operational references to sections of the Act such as accreditation, authorisations and passenger service contracts: regulations 6, 14, 17, 49). The Regulations implement detailed operational elements that the Act authorises the Commission to prescribe.
Taxi and Hire Vehicle Industries Act 2008 and Regulations 2023: "Required equipment" is defined by reference to what is required under the Taxi and Hire Vehicle Industries Act 2008 (regulation 3(1)), and taxi fare rules reference taxi fare orders under section 66A of the Taxi and Hire Vehicle Industries Act 2008 (regulation 14(2)). Regulation 26 prescribes obligations regarding licence number plates issued under that Act and corresponding Taxi and Hire Vehicle Industries Regulations 2023 (regulation 26 refers to regulation 11 of the 2023 Regulations).
Vehicle and Traffic Act 1999 and Vehicle and Traffic Regulations: Operational capacity and vehicle registration particulars are anchored to the record of motor vehicles kept under the Vehicle and Traffic Act 1999 (Schedule 1 cl 2(2)(i); regulation 10(d)(i)). Notification obligations reference vehicle registration and vehicle standards under the Vehicle and Traffic (Vehicle Standards) Regulations 2024 and the Vehicle and Traffic (Driver Licensing and Vehicle Registration) Regulations 2021 for obligations about vehicle standards, defects and licence/ancillary certificates (regulations 10(d), 10(f)-(h), 12(b)(ii)-(iii), 18(1)(h)-(i)).
Criminal Code and Police Offences Act 1935 and other criminal provisions: Regulation 4 prescribes a catalogue of offences in the Criminal Code, Police Offences Act and Vehicle and Traffic Act as "serious offences" for the Act’s definition of serious offence, tying serious criminal findings into the Act’s regulatory consequences (regulation 4(a)-(b)). Regulation 24(3)(l)-(m) requires recording incidents that lead to assault allegations or where the driver is charged with a serious offence.
Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Cth): Regulation 18(1)(e) directly adopts the federal test in section 54A of the Commonwealth Disability Discrimination Act for when a driver may refuse to transport an assistance animal, embedding federal anti‑discrimination norms into the transport regulations.
Taxation and Corporations offences: Regulation 4(b) prescribes Commonwealth offences under the Corporations Act 2001 (Div 3 of Part 5.7) and Division 2 of Part III of the Taxation Administration Act 1953 as serious offences, thereby linking corporate/criminal financial wrongdoing to the Act’s regulatory regime.
Evidence and police powers: Regulation 48 supplies a statutory evidentiary certificate regime for camera downloads that simplifies interactions with police investigations and court procedures. Regulation 47 preserves police powers to remove persons on reasonable grounds for offences under the Act or the Taxi and Hire Vehicle Industries Act 2008.
Interaction and harmonisation clause: Regulation 3(2) explicitly states that where terms are used in these Regulations and also in the Taxi and Hire Vehicle Industries Act 2008 or Taxi and Hire Vehicle Industries Regulations 2023, those terms have the same meaning unless the contrary intention appears (regulation 3(2)). This reduces definitional friction between the regimes.
Practically, the Regulations operate as an implementation layer for vehicle safety, fare integrity and administrative oversight, relying on vehicle registration/standards regimes, taxi licensing statutes, Commonwealth disability law and criminal law to create a coherent regulatory environment. Operators and drivers must therefore observe not only these Regulations but also the connected obligations and evidentiary frameworks found in the Vehicle and Traffic Act, the Taxi and Hire Vehicle Industries Act, and relevant Commonwealth statutes.
Amendment history
The instrument records a short but concrete amendment history embedded in footnotes and bracketed notes. The principal chronological points stated in the Regulations are:
Commencement and rescission: The Regulations commenced 26 June 2023 (regulation 2) and expressly rescind the Passenger Transport Services Regulations 2013 (regulation 53). Transitional savings are provided (regulation 52) to carry across existing records, written instructions about accreditation display, risk management matters previously specified, and active disallowances under the former regulations into the new regime.
2024 amendments (S.R. 2024, No. 58, Applied: 16 Oct 2024): The Regulations show specific amendments applied on 16 October 2024. Notably, Schedule 1 (operational capacity) was amended (Schedule 1 prefatory notes and definitions of ADR second/third edition) and regulation 12(2)(b)(ii) (notification about vehicle breach of vehicle standard under the Vehicle and Traffic (Vehicle Standards) Regulations 2024) was amended by the 2024 instrument. The Schedule 1 amendments update ADR references consistent with the Vehicle and Traffic (Vehicle Standards) Regulations 2024.
2025 amendments (S.R. 2025, No. 65, Applied: 10 Dec 2025): Several provisions carry footnotes indicating amendment by S.R. 2025 No. 65 applied 10 December 2025. These include:
Regulation 3(1) definitions , contactless payment method, reader and scan , were amended by the 2025 instrument (regulation 3 notes).
Regulation 14: Subregulation (1A) , default fare where a person fails to scan as required under regulation 22A(1) , was inserted by the 2025 instrument (regulation 14 footnote).
Regulation 22: Subregulation (1A) was inserted to clarify that using a contactless payment method to commence payment counts as having paid the fare for the purposes of subregulation (1)(a) (regulation 22 footnote).
Regulation 22A (Obligation to scan at beginning and end of journey) was inserted by S.R. 2025 No. 65 (regulation 22A heading and footnote).
Regulation 38 was substituted by S.R. 2025 No. 65 and now contains the revenue protection device definition and powers relating to scanning and verification (regulation 38 heading).
Part 2 of Schedule 3 (infringement notices against regulations) was amended by the 2025 instrument (Schedule 3 prefatory note).
The Regulations include precise applied dates for these amendments as printed in their footnotes; the text as presented therefore reflects those amendments where indicated. The Schedule 2 fee list and Schedule 3 infringement schedules also show being formatted and displayed under the Rules Publication Act 1953.
The amendment notes embedded in the Regulations show an iterative adaptation of the instrument to accommodate electronic payment and revenue protection mechanisms (2025 amendments regarding contactless/ticket scanning and revenue protection devices) and vehicle standards alignment (2024 amendments). The transitional provisions (regulation 52) preserve continuity for records, instructions and existing disallowances from the repealed 2013 Regulations, and the rescission clause confirms repeal of the earlier regulations (regulation 53).
Litigation history
The Regulations themselves do not record any case law or judicial determinations. The instrument does, however, designate certain Commission decisions and actions as administrative decisions for review under the Act (regulation 49). That designation is relevant to any litigation or merits review because it identifies which Commission actions are reviewable administrative decisions under section 53 of the Act. Specifically regulation 49 declares the following to be administrative decisions for the Act’s review framework:
Decisions under section 61A of the Act (regulation 49(a));
Decisions under section 64 of the Act (regulation 49(b));
Decisions, actions or determinations of the Commission made under regulation 9 (instructions about how evidence of accreditation is displayed) (regulation 49(c)).
Because the text declares those Commission decisions administrative, a person aggrieved by such decisions will have the procedural status of an administrative decision under the Act’s review mechanisms, subject to the Act’s review rules (regulation 49 and the Act). Regulation 51 also establishes which offences are infringement notice offences for the Act’s s 61B scheme; that creates an administrative enforcement pathway that can preclude or supplement court proceedings in many cases.
Beyond these internal procedural designations, the Regulations do not cite or rely upon any reported case law. If parties seek judicial review or statutory appeal against Commission decisions declared administrative, the applicable grounds and pathways will be those set out in the Act and general administrative law, but the Regulations themselves do not list cases or precedents. The evidentiary certificates created in regulation 48 are prima facie evidence, which alters evidentiary burdens in proceedings where those certificates are used; their legal weight is statutory rather than judicially developed within the instrument.
In short, while the Regulations create administrative reviewable decision nodes and evidentiary mechanisms likely to be litigated in contested matters, the instrument contains no litigation history or case citations; any litigation history will be generated in future proceedings applying these provisions.
Gotchas
Several operational and compliance traps for practitioners emerge directly from the Regulations’ mechanics:
Scanning obligations and default fares: Regulation 22A imposes a new obligation (inserted by 2025 amendment) that persons paying by ticket or contactless method on a regular passenger service must scan at the commencement and cessation of a journey (regulation 22A(1)). Regulation 14(1A) then permits charging a default fare in accordance with the statewide fare structure where a person fails to scan as required. Practitioners should note the interaction: an operator or the Department may charge a default fare if a payment method is not scanned (regulation 14(1A)). The Regulations also clarify that commencing payment with a contactless method counts as having paid for the purposes of regulation 22(1)(a) (regulation 22(1A)). Failure to recognise these linked provisions can expose passengers to default fares and operators to disputes about whether scanning was practicable or whether a person had reasonable excuse (regulation 22A(1) provides a defence of reasonable excuse).
Heavy and specific records regime for on‑demand operators: Regulation 10 requires accredited on‑demand operators to retain comprehensive records (driver identifiers, vehicle VIN and registration, installation/testing of required equipment, incidents involving injuries or vehicle incapacitation, complaints about assistance animals, policies and training records, compliance returns under other Acts). These are detailed and many items are event‑triggered (e.g. any occasion when a vehicle was unregistered) (regulation 10(1)(a)-(s)). Non‑on‑demand accredited operators still must keep safety/security system implementation records (regulation 10(2)). Record retention practice will need to be carefully aligned with the Commission’s requests (regulation 11(2)) and possible exemptions (regulation 11(3)).
Commission discretion on operational capacity and safety: Schedule 1 allows the Commission to reduce operational seating or standing capacity for particular vehicles on account of route conditions and other factors (Schedule 1 cl 2(3)-(4) and cl 3(5)-(6)). Where the Commission issues written notice reducing capacity, the operator must treat the reduced number as the operational capacity and display it as required (regulation 15(2)). Operators who assume registry seating capacity is always operational capacity risk breaching reg 15(1) if the Commission has made a reduction.
Required equipment and interference: Regulation 25 prohibits interference with required equipment and requires relevant operators to ensure modifications do not interfere with required equipment (regulation 25(1)-(4)). Because "required equipment" is defined by reference to the Taxi and Hire Vehicle Industries Act 2008, operators who modify vehicles must check other statutory obligations on equipment and signage. Penalties for interference are comparatively low in penalty units for individual offences but remain enforceable and can be aggregated with other breaches.
Disallowance and notice formalities: Operators can disallow persons from travelling but must give a written notification specifying reasons, scope and the disallowance period , and statutory caps apply (first disallowance up to 3 months; later disallowances up to 6 months) (regulation 27(2)-(4)). Failure to satisfy the notification content or to observe the caps could expose the operator to review or challenge, given regulation 49 declares some Commission decisions administrative and the Act’s general review pathways apply.
Evidence chain for camera recordings: Regulation 48 enables downloading and delivery certificates to be prima facie evidence of particulars about security camera recordings. Practitioners should ensure certificates are properly prepared and that downloads are lawfully performed and logged; otherwise reliance on the certificate may be challenged. The certificate requires specific particulars including make/serial number of system and confirmation that downloading was lawful and equipment was in proper working order (regulation 48(1)-(3)).
Intersection with other Acts: Several obligations are conditioned on compliance with other Acts (e.g. Vehicle and Traffic Act ancillary certificates, seatbelt standards cross‑referenced to ADRs in Schedule 1, and the Disability Discrimination Act re assistance animals) (regulation 18(1)(h)-(i); Schedule 1 cl 2(1)). Practitioners must map compliance across statutes rather than rely on the Regulations alone.
Fee units and application costs: Schedule 2 sets fixed fee units for accreditation, booking service provider registration and related matters (e.g., 424 fee units for application to be a booking service provider , Schedule 2 item 2). Fee units translate into monetary cost and recur for variations and revised certificates. Operators should budget for these application and variation costs.
Infringement notice rates are comparatively low for many offences but the aggregation of multiple infringements (e.g., record‑keeping breaches plus fare offences plus interference with equipment) can increase exposure; Schedule 3 sets different penalty units for individuals and bodies corporate (regulation 51 and Schedule 3).
Each "gotcha" directly follows from the text; practitioners need to monitor the Commission’s determinations and written notices (e.g. on capacity and accreditation display), record retention requests, Secretary exemptions (for scanning), and ensure vehicle modifications and equipment installations are compliant with cross‑referenced vehicle standards and ticketing equipment standards.
How to comply
To translate the Regulations into a practical compliance checklist, operators, booking service providers, drivers and compliance officers should implement the following concrete measures, tied to the Regulations’ provisions:
Accreditation, display and register compliance
Ensure the accreditation register includes the particulars required by regulation 8 (full name, business address, accreditation types and numbers, commencement dates, current status, conditions, nominated relevant person, booking service provider status and affiliated operator details).
Apply any written Commission instructions on displaying evidence of accreditation and ensure vehicles carry that display; the Commission may issue specific instructions (regulation 9(1)-(2)).
Records regime and monthly returns
For on‑demand services, maintain the detailed records listed in regulation 10(1)(a)-(s): driver identifiers and operation dates, fleet registration and VINs, installation and testing logs for required equipment, incidents and accidents records, complaints about assistance animals, policies, training records and compliance returns.
For non‑on‑demand accredited operators, document implementation of safety/security systems as required under regulation 10(2).
Keep and produce monthly vehicle registration records per regulation 11(1); implement systems for rapid retrieval if the Commission requests copies (regulation 11(2)). Seek Commission exemptions where appropriate (regulation 11(3)).
Fares, contactless ticketing and scanning
Ensure fares do not exceed those in the statewide fare structure or contract/authorisation fares (regulation 14(1)).
Equip and configure approved readers and revenue protection devices in regular passenger service vehicles as required. Train staff and drivers on scanning procedures because regulation 22A requires commencement and cessation scans for contactless/ticket payment methods, subject to reasonable excuse and Secretary exemptions.
Update fare collection practices to handle default fares permitted under regulation 14(1A) where scanning fails. Maintain logs showing whether scans occurred before charging a default fare to support defence of decisions.
Vehicle capacity, seating and standing
Calculate operational seating and standing capacity following Schedule 1 (cl 1-3). Where vehicles are “prescribed vehicles”, ensure holding devices comply and standing capacity calculations follow the prescribed floor area rules (Schedule 1 cl 3(1)-(3)).
Display operational seating and standing capacity inside the vehicle prominently when required (regulation 15(2)). Monitor Commission notices reducing operational capacity and adjust displays and operational practice immediately (Schedule 1 cl 2(3)-(4), cl 3(5)-(6)).
Equipment and vehicle modifications
Ensure required equipment is fitted, displayed, installed, updated, tested and operational in accordance with the Taxi and Hire Vehicle Industries Act 2008 and the Regulations (regulation 17(4); regulation 25). Document installations and tests in the records called for in regulation 10(d)(ii).
Avoid modifications that could interfere with required equipment; where modifications are needed, check compliance and update records.
Driver training, duties and powers
Train drivers on duties (regulation 18). Ensure taxi drivers understand taximeter start/stop rules, wheelchair restraint obligations, taxi zone conduct and when to request evidence of payment (regulation 18(3)).
Train on the exercise of powers (regulations 29-36): how to require evidence, how and when to ask for name and address (regulation 31), and how to direct passengers to move, cease behaviour or leave the vehicle while observing safety constraints (regulation 21, 36).
Incident reporting and notifications
Implement incident reporting procedures to capture the categories listed in regulation 12(a) and findings in regulation 12(b) so the Commission can be notified promptly as required under section 33M of the Act.
Maintain a chain‑of‑custody procedure for security camera footage and prepare downloading and delivery certificates in the form required by regulation 48 when providing footage to police or authorised officers to ensure the certificates operate as prima facie evidence.
Operator conditions and passenger conditions
If imposing conditions of travel under regulation 28, ensure conditions are lawful, not inconsistent with the Act, displayed prominently inside vehicles or made available on request (regulation 28(1)-(4)). Keep records of notices and display protocols.
Fees, applications and administrative interactions
Budget for application and variation fees in Schedule 2 (e.g. fee unit levels) and ensure timely payment with licence or accreditation applications. Record payment receipts in the accreditation register where relevant (regulation 8).
Prepare for Commission requests and administrative decisions: keep accurate records required for reviewable decisions and be ready to engage the Act’s review pathways for decisions declared administrative by regulation 49.
Policies for passengers, concessions and accessibility
Put in place policies and staff training for concession evidence checks per regulation 22(4) and for treating persons with assistance animals per regulation 18(1)(e), consistent with the Disability Discrimination Act.
Ensure communication about scanning requirements is clear to passengers to reduce disputes and complaints.
Operationalising these steps requires administrative systems (electronic record systems, audit trails for downloads and scans, staff training modules) and periodic review to ensure any Commission determinations or Secretary exemptions are incorporated. The Regulations place the onus of compliance chiefly on accredited operators and relevant persons (regulation 17), with drivers carrying important operational duties (regulation 18) and frontline enforcement powers (regulations 29-36).
(a) is installed, in an approved manner, in a vehicle being used to provide a regular passenger service; and
(b) is to be used for the purposes of –
(i) accepting payment for fares relating to the regular passenger service; and
(ii) registering when a passenger commences and ceases a journey on or in the vehicle;
relevant person, in respect of a vehicle, means –
(a) if the vehicle is being operated as a taxi under the authority of a taxi licence that can be identified, the responsible operator of the taxi licence; or
(b) if the vehicle is being operated as a taxi under the authority of a taxi licence that cannot be identified, the registered operator of the vehicle; or
(c) if the vehicle is not being operated as a taxi, the registered operator of the vehicle;
required equipment means equipment, notices, signs or labels installed or displayed in accordance with the Taxi and Hire Vehicle Industries Act 2008 in a vehicle that is being operated under the authority of a licence;
[Regulation 3 Subregulation (1) amended by S.R. 2025, No. 65, Applied:10 Dec 2025]scan, in relation to a ticket or a contactless payment method, means to hold the ticket or contactless payment method in front of a reader until such time as the reader indicates (by means of a display, sound or other signal) that it has read and accepted payment by means of the ticket or contactless payment method;
[Regulation 3 Subregulation (1) amended by S.R. 2025, No. 65, Applied:10 Dec 2025]statewide fare structure means a document, approved by the Secretary and published from time to time on a website maintained by or on behalf of the Department, specifying the fares which may be charged by, or on behalf of, the Department or the operator of a regular passenger service contracted by the Secretary under section 44 , 45 or 46 of the Act;
ticket includes an electronic ticket or electronic token that indicates that a fare has been paid in relation to a journey on a passenger transport service.
(2) Unless the contrary intention appears, a term used in these regulations and also in the Taxi and Hire Vehicle Industries Act 2008 or Taxi and Hire Vehicle Industries Regulations 2023 has the same meaning in these regulations as in that Act or regulations.
4 Prescribed serious offences
4 Prescribed serious offences
For the purposes of paragraph (g) of the definition of serious offence in section 3(1) of the Act, the following offences are prescribed:
(ii) section 43A of thePolice Offences Act 1935 ; or
(iii) section 64 of theVehicle and Traffic Act 1999 ;
(b) an offence under –
(i) Division 3 of Part 5.7 of the Corporations Act 2001 of the Commonwealth; or
(ii) Division 2 of Part III of the Taxation Administration Act 1953 of the Commonwealth;
(c) an offence under regulation 22(4) ;
(d) an offence under regulation 25 .
5 Incidental passenger services
5 Incidental passenger services
For the purposes of section 8(1)(d) of the Act, the following motor vehicles are prescribed as motor vehicles to which the Act does not apply:
(a) vans used to transport prisoners within the meaning of the Corrections Act 1997 ;
(b) large passenger vehicles used primarily to provide services in, or responses to, an emergency within the meaning of the Emergency Management Act 2006 , whether the vehicle is operated by the State or a private organisation.
6 Booking service providers
6 Booking service providers
(1) For the purposes of this regulation –
community transport service means a transport service provided by –
(a) an organisation that provides a service in pursuit of the primary purposes of that organisation and that is –
(i) a not-for-profit organisation; and
(ii) funded entirely or partially by any of the following or a combination of any of the following:
(a) the Commonwealth;
(b) the State;
(c) a council; or
(b) an organisation that is, or is entitled to be, endorsed by the Australian Taxation Office as a charitable or benevolent institution; or
(c) a council.
(2) For the purposes of section 8A(4) of the Act, the following persons are prescribed to be a booking service provider:
(a) a person who provides a taxi dispatch service or other communication network that operates in a taxi area that is not a remote taxi area;
(b) a person who permits a ride-sourcing driver to operate a passenger transport service by means of ride-sourcing software.
(3) For the purposes of section 8A(5) of the Act, the following persons are prescribed not to be a booking service provider:
(a) a person who provides a community transport service;
(b) a person who provides radio or dispatch services in relation to services in, or responses to, an emergency within the meaning of the Emergency Management Act 2006 ;
(c) a person who provides, or provides services in relation to, the tuition of drivers;
(d) a person who is the licence holder, accredited operator or registered operator in relation to a vehicle being operated as a taxi and is affiliated with a booking service provider;
(e) a person who is the licence holder, accredited operator or registered operator in relation to a vehicle being operated as a taxi, and who both arranges bookings in relation to the provision of a taxi service and uses a taxi dispatch service for this purpose, but is not an affiliated operator in relation to a booking service provider.
(4) For the avoidance of doubt, a person specified in subregulation (3)(d) may occasionally refer bookings to, or receive bookings from, another such person without being deemed a booking service provider.
7 Regular passenger services
7 Regular passenger services
For the purposes of section 35(2)(c) of the Act, a passenger service is taken not to be a regular passenger service for the purposes of the Act if the passenger service is operated by, or on behalf of, a private institution or association solely for use by people enrolled at, or affiliated with, that institution or association.
Part 2 Administration of Passenger Transport Services
Part 2 Administration of Passenger Transport Services
Division 1 General
Division 1 General
8 Accreditation register
8 Accreditation register
For the purposes of section 23(2)(a) of the Act, the following particulars in respect of an accredited operator are prescribed as the particulars that are to be contained within the register required to be kept under that section:
(a) the full name of the accredited operator;
(b) the business address of the accredited operator;
(c) each type of accreditation held by the accredited operator;
(d) the accreditation number associated with each type of accreditation held by the accredited operator;
(e) the date on which each type of accreditation held by the accredited operator commenced;
(f) the current accreditation status of the accredited operator;
(g) any conditions attached to an accreditation held by the accredited operator;
(h) the full name and contact details for the relevant person nominated in respect of each accreditation held by the accredited operator;
(i) whether the accredited operator is a booking service provider;
(j) if the accredited operator is a booking service provider –
(i) the full name and contact details of each affiliated operator in relation to the accredited operator; and
(ii) the accreditation number of each affiliated operator who provides a taxi service, in relation to the accredited operator; and
(iii) the date on which the affiliated operator became affiliated with the accredited operator; and
(iv) the date on which the affiliated operator ceased to be affiliated with the accredited operator, if applicable.
9 Displaying evidence of accreditation
9 Displaying evidence of accreditation
(1) The Commission may issue written instructions as to how evidence of accreditation is to be displayed in vehicles used to provide services in accordance with the accreditation.
(2) An accredited operator must comply with any applicable written instructions issued under subregulation (1) .
Penalty: Fine not exceeding 10 penalty units.
Division 2 Records, reports and conditions of on-demand passenger transport service accredited operators
Division 2 Records, reports and conditions of on-demand passenger transport service accredited operators
10 Records
10 Records
(1) An accredited operator providing an on-demand passenger transport service is to keep records of the following information in relation to the provision of that service:
(a) copies of the information required to be contained in the accreditation register under regulation 8(c), (d) , (e) , (g) , (i) and (j) ;
(b) the following particulars in relation to each person operating as an on-demand driver for the on-demand passenger transport service in relation to which accreditation is held by the accredited operator:
(i) the driver licence number or other unique driver identifier of the person;
(ii) the date of the commencement of the operation of that person;
(iii) the date of the conclusion of the operation of the person, if applicable;
(c) the number of vehicles being operated under the on-demand passenger transport service in relation to which accreditation is held by the accredited operator;
(d) the following particulars in relation to each vehicle being operated under the on-demand passenger transport service in relation to which accreditation is held by the accredited operator:
(i) the registration number, and VIN allocated to the vehicle and recorded on the register of motor vehicles and trailers kept under the Vehicle and Traffic (Driver Licensing and Vehicle Registration) Regulations 2021 ;
(ii) a record of installation of required equipment used on the vehicle, and of any testing of that equipment;
(iii) the date on which the vehicle commenced to be so operated;
(iv) the date on which the vehicle ceased to be so operated, if applicable;
(e) particulars of any breach, in relation to the service, of a standard approved under section 16 of the Act;
(f) particulars of any occasion during which a vehicle being operated during the provision of the service ceased to function due to a failure to comply with the relevant vehicle standards applicable to the vehicle under the Vehicle and Traffic (Driver Licensing and Vehicle Registration) Regulations 2021 ;
(g) particulars of any occasion during which a vehicle being operated during the provision of the service was not registered in accordance with the [Vehicle and Traffic Ac
This is an opening excerpt, not the complete document.