Dob In Those Dodgy Cabs
The Age
Thursday October 16, 2003
The next time you're in a taxi that rattles and squeaks, or the front end shudders, or when the cabbie brakes you hear an unnerving rasping sound in the wheels, report it to the Victorian Taxi Directorate.
That seems to be the message from the directorate, which checks on the roadworthy condition of all Victorian taxis.
According to a directorate source, taxis must undergo a roadworthy at regular intervals, depending on the age of the vehicle. But some owners are tardy and don't get their vehicle tested when they should.
``Sometimes we have to follow them up before we get some action," the source says. ``We have them occasionally picked up for driving an unroadworthy vehicle."
The ``majority" of taxis are OK. ``There are a few who have to be chased."
The directorate has ``about a dozen" enforcement officers who do spot checks on cars. ``We do spot checks at the airport and taxi ranks," the source says.
He says if someone reports a taxi that they think is not right or not safe, ``enforcement officers get the vehicle in immediately and check it out".
The directorate's compliance requirements for taxis operating in Victoria are as follows:
• Metropolitan taxis up to four years old: a roadworthy check every year;
• Taxis four to six years old: six-monthly;
• Six to 61/2 years old: every three months.
Country cabs up to five years old require an annual roadworthy and cabs five-plus years need to be checked every six months.
Taxis in metropolitan and urban areas must be taken off the road after 61/2 years. Multi-purpose taxis 101/2 years.
© 2003 The Age