62Eligibility to apply for public vehicle licence

62 Eligibility to apply for public vehicle licence issue of a full licence as, or the variation of a full licence to include, a public vehicle licence for a kind of public vehicle if the person satisfies— (a) the personal eligibility requirements in subsection (3); and (b) the licensing eligibility requirements in subsection (4).

(2) Subsection (1) is subject to section 66 (Eligibility to apply for licence if disqualified or licence suspended). (3) The following requirements are the personal eligibility requirements for a public vehicle licence: (a) the person has the skills to drive the public vehicle in the application; (b) the person is a suitable person to drive the public vehicle in the application; Note Suitability to drive a public vehicle is further dealt with in s 70 (3). (c) the person is medically fit to hold a public vehicle licence; Note Medically fit—see s (7). (d) the person is— (i) an Australian citizen; or (ii) a permanent resident; or (iii) a temporary resident who holds a visa that allows the person to work as a public vehicle driver; (e) for a public vehicle licence to drive a taxi—the person is— (i) certified by the road transport authority as meeting the determined minimum English language standards; or Note For the minimum English language standards, see s (5). (ii) a citizen, or passport holder, of any of the following countries: (A) Australia; (B) Canada; (C) New Zealand; (D) Republic of Ireland;

(E) United Kingdom; (F) USA. (4) The following requirements are the licensing eligibility requirements for a public vehicle licence: (a) for a public vehicle licence to drive a public bus–– (i) the person holds a full licence to drive the kind of public bus in the application or a licence of a higher class; and 1 A person who applies for a public vehicle licence to drive a small bus (with a GVM not over 4.5t) that is equipped to seat 11 adults (including the driver) requires a full car licence (see table 9, item 2). 2 A person who applies for a public vehicle licence to drive a bus (with a GVM over 4.5t, but not over 8t) that is equipped to seat 15 adults (including the driver) requires a full light rigid vehicle licence (see table 9, item 3). (ii) the person has held the licence, or an Australian driver licence that corresponds to a licence mentioned in subparagraph (i), for at least 1 year (or for periods totalling 1 year) in the previous 3 years; (b) for a public vehicle licence to drive a taxi––the person holds a full car licence or a full licence of a higher class; (c) for a public vehicle licence to drive a hire car— (i) that is a motorbike–– (A) the person holds a full motorcycle licence; and (B) the person has held a full motorcycle licence, or an Australian driver licence that corresponds to a full motorcycle licence, for at least 1 year (or periods totalling 1 year) in the previous 3 years; or

(ii) that is not a motorbike––the person holds a full car licence or a full licence of a higher class; (d) for a public vehicle licence to drive a rideshare vehicle––the person holds a full car licence or a full licence of a higher class; (e) for a public vehicle licence to drive a DRS vehicle––the person— (i) holds a full car licence or a full licence of a higher class; and (ii) has held the licence, or an Australian driver licence that corresponds to a licence mentioned in subparagraph (i), for at least 1 year (or for periods totalling 1 year) in the previous 3 years; (f) if the person does not hold a public vehicle licence to drive the public vehicle in the application— (i) for a public bus or DRS vehicle—the person has successfully completed an approved public vehicle driver training course to drive a public bus or DRS vehicle in the year before the application is made; or Note Approved public vehicle driver training course—see s 65. (ii) for a taxi, hire car or rideshare vehicle—the person has successfully completed any determined training requirements; or Note Determined training requirements—see s 65. (iii) the road transport authority has, under section 67 (4), exempted the person from the requirement in subparagraph (i) or (ii). Note Under s 68 (1) periods of licence suspension or disqualification are not counted and every other period when the person has, during the 3-year period, held a full licence is counted.