Transport and Main Roads crack down on ride-share drivers using taxi zones in Toowoomba transit centre

Article by Jarrard Potter via The Courier Mail. 

Ride-share drivers have been put on notice to stay out of designated taxi zones after a crackdown from Transport and Main Roads. 

A compliance operation in the Toowoomba region on August 5 resulted in four penalty infringement notices being issued to drivers in designated taxi zones, including the rank within the Toowoomba bus station.

A TMR spokesman said other than taxis, all light vehicles are restricted from entering the bus station for the safety of pedestrians and passengers.

“There are frequent bus services transiting through the bus station picking up and dropping off passengers,” he said.

“Only taxis may use taxi ranks to pick up and drop off passengers because they are the only vehicles that may undertake rank and hail work.

“Ride-share vehicles must be hired in advance through an approved booking entity and not on-the-spot or through the driver. Therefore, ride-share vehicles cannot stop in taxi zones. 

“Ride-share vehicles are permitted to stop in legal spaces, such as passenger pick-up and loading zones, to pick up or drop off passengers safely. Unlike taxis, they cannot take bookings via rank and hail.”

A ride-share operator stopping in a taxi zone can be fined $287, and passengers may be asked to provide information to verify whether a trip is private or booked through an authorised booking entity such as a ride-share app.