Rideshare and taxi drivers doing the wrong thing on the Sunshine Coast have been caught out during a Christmas crackdown.
Covert and overt operations by the Department of Transport and Main Roads over the festive season, targeted operators across South East Queensland.
More than 2,050 taxis, limousines and booked hire vehicles have been pulled over since the enforcement blitz began on December 2, with a total of 613 fines issued.
Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey says increased operations are in response to complaints of taxi and rideshare drivers doing the wrong thing, in particular overcharging.
“Compliance operations were ramped up over Christmas and New Year and caught more than one in four drivers doing the wrong thing,” Mr Bailey says.
“While this is disappointing, I’d like to say thank you to the majority drivers doing the right thing, and acknowledge an improvement in some areas since the operation began.
“We’ve had a lot less fines for over quoting and overcharging since the operation started in November, which is pleasing to see.
“We’ve particularly targeted some nightlife precincts where the problem has been very prevalent, but enforcement has been on both the Gold and Sunshine Coasts as well as Brisbane, so it has been widespread, the enforcement, and I think we’re getting the message through that this is unacceptable.”
Fines have been issued for 31 different offences from December 2 to January 15, of varying amounts up to $575.
The most common offences included failing to display correct signage (179), unauthorised vehicles stopping in a bus zone (130) and stop in taxi zone while providing a booked hire service (57).
