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Authorised Queensland Taxi Driver Display Card

The Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) has now implemented a requirement for an Authorised Queensland Taxi Driver Display Card to be displayed by taxi drivers. This was done to give the travelling public confidence that a taxi driver has met the requirements and been authorised by the Department of Transport and Main Roads. This decision was supported by the Workplace Rights Ombudsman. The report into the Taxi Industry on 23 June 2010 stated: 'The Ombudsman supports the recent decision of the Minister for Transport and Main Roads to introduce a standard requiring all drivers to display their photograph together with their Driver's Authority number in the taxis as such requirement serves to support both the security of passengers and the accountability of drivers who engage in poor conduct.'

The Department of Transport and Main Roads began rolling out the display card to all taxi service areas in Queensland in early 2011. The display of this card is a requirement for taxi drivers in prescribed taxi service areas and it is an offence under Transport Operations (Passenger Transport) Regulation 2005 to drive without displaying this card if the vehicle is available for hire.

This card will be provided free of charge to all holders of a taxi driver authorisation in Queensland.

Queries

If you have any queries about the Authorised Queensland Taxi Driver Display Card requirements please contact your taxi booking company or taxi operator or email the Department of Transport and Main Roads at taxidisplaycard@tmr.qld.gov.au

Frequently asked questions

Q: Who is required to display this card?

A: Taxi drivers in the taxi service areas listed below are required to display this card. Drivers in areas not listed will automatically be issued with a display card, however the display of this card within the taxi will not be regulated.

Q: Who will be required to display this card?

A: Taxi drivers in the taxi service areas listed below will be required to display this card when it is implemented in these areas. A number of other areas may be added to this list in the future. Drivers in areas not listed will automatically be issued with a display card however the display of this card within the taxi will not be regulated.

The use of interim display cards will only apply to taxi service areas in the above prescribed list.

Q: How do I get an Authorised Queensland Taxi Driver Display Card?

A: You will be automatically issued with a display card when you are granted a Driver Authorisation for taxi services or you renew your driver authority.

Q: What do the cards look like?

A: The Authorised Queensland Taxi Driver Display Card will contain a photo of the driver, the driver authorisation (DA) number and the expiry date of the display card. The expiry date of the card is the same as the expiry date of the Driver Authorisation. The card will not have a chip or store any personal information or signature. The card will be approximately 87mm high x 140mm wide – see image of sample card below.

Department of Transport and Main Roads Customer Service Centres are being gradually upgraded with the new camera technology required to record your image for the card. As the Customer Service Centres are upgraded, every taxi driver will be required to have their current driver authorisation replaced with a new Industry Authority card. There will be no charge for a replacement Industry Authority card.

Nearly all Customer Service Centres in South East Queensland have now been enabled with the new technology.

Authorised Queensland Taxi Driver Display Card

This display card is not an authority to drive and you must have a valid driver authorisation for taxi services if you are driving a taxi.

Q: Will my identity be compromised by displaying my details?

A: Privacy and security issues were considered by the department when making the decision to use the driver's driver authorisation number on the card. While the driver authorisation number is unique to each driver, there is no value in knowing this number alone. To conduct business with the department a person would need this number along with other private information not printed on the card, including your date of birth.

Consideration was also given to the fact that the driver authorisation number is already printed on a large number of receipts issued by each driver for taxi travel.

The Workplace Rights Ombudsman commented in the report into the taxi industry on 23 June 2010: 'The Ombudsman supports the recent decision of the Minister for Transport and Main Roads to introduce a standard requiring all drivers to display their photograph together with their Driver's Authority number in the taxis as such requirement serves to support both the security of passengers and the accountability of drivers who engage in poor conduct.'

The issue of using the driver authorisation number was raised by departmental officers at the Taxi Industry Workplace Health and Safety Committee where the industry representatives, including drivers and the Transport Workers Union, acknowledged the current availability of the driver authorisation number on taxi receipts and confirmed they had no objection to having this number displayed on the card.

Drivers should note that the actual details relating to the driver licence are not able to be accessed by any member of the public and are only available to authorised Department of Transport staff and Police. The department also has significant internal security and auditing provisions in relation to accessing any person's private records which may be held on departmental systems.

Q: What name is used on the card?

A: The name of the driver is not included on the card.

The department had initially produced cards which included the first name of the driver, however, due to representations from the taxi industry, this requirement was removed.

Q: What happens if I don't display my card?

A: If you operate a taxi in a prescribed area list above it is an offence not to display this card while driving the taxi. The penalty for not displaying the card when the vehicle is available for hire is $200.

Q: Where do I display my card?

A: The card must be displayed in a prominent position in the vehicle where it can be clearly seen by the passengers. As part of the implementation of this initiative, the department made a one off provision of a card holder for each vehicle, but it is up to the owner or driver of the taxi as to whether or not they use this holder.

Q: What happens if my card is lost or stolen?

A: If your display card is lost, stolen or destroyed you must attend a Department of Transport and Main Roads office, or in more remote locations – a QGAP office or Police station, and apply for a replacement card.

Replacement Authorised Queensland Taxi Driver Display Card – Form F4875

The Department of Transport and Main Roads has issued a limited number of interim taxi driver display cards to taxi booking companies and some large taxi operators.

Please see the list below for maps of all the contracted taxi service areas where Interim Taxi Driver Display Cards will be required.

If you drive a taxi in one of these areas and your card has been lost, stolen or destroyed you can obtain an interim card until your replacement card is delivered. Strict rules will apply to the issue of these interim cards. Interim cards issued in these circumstances are considered to be a display card for the purpose of the legislation.

These interim cards cannot be issued if you have simply left your display card at home.

Drivers of taxis in non-prescribed areas will not require a display card and therefore will not require an interim card.

Q: What happens if I am a new taxi driver?

A: If you are a new driver in a prescribed taxi service area and you are waiting for your display card to be delivered, you can show your 'Driver Authorisation Receipt' to you taxi booking company or taxi operator who will be able to issue you with an interim card. This interim card will allow you to work until you receive your personal display card. Once your personal card is received you must return your interim card to the issuer.

Q: Who do I contact if I don't receive my card?

A: Your display card will arrive in the mail within two weeks of having your new Industry Authority approved. If you have not received your card after this time please contact the Department on 13 23 80 or the Customer Service Centre that issued the card to arrange for a replacement if necessary.

Any mail that cannot be delivered will be returned to the department and will be held for 28 days. Please do not wait more than 28 days to contact us – any mail left unclaimed cannot be retrieved.

Please ensure that the department has your correct details, if your details have changed you are required to notify the Department as soon as possible.

Q: How much will this card cost me?

A: The Authorised Queensland Taxi Driver Display Card will be provided free of charge to all holders of a taxi driver authorisation in Queensland.

In line with the introduction of the New Queensland Driver Licence, taxi drivers are required to have their laminated driver authorisation replaced with a new Industry Authority card.

There will be no charge to taxi drivers for the replacement Industry Authority card during the introduction of the display card. After the introduction period, any replacement Industry Authority card will follow the existing fee structure.

Q: Who can I contact for further information?

A: If you have any queries about this initiative please contact your taxi booking company or taxi operator or email the Department of Transport and Main Roads at taxidisplaycard@tmr.qld.gov.au

Further information in relation to the implementation progress of this initiative will be made available on the Department of Transport and Main Roads website and through your taxi booking company or taxi operator.

Q: Why are the cards being sent in the mail rather than issued over the counter?

A: The photograph being used on new Authorised Queensland Taxi Driver Display Card is the same image as being captured with the New Queensland Driver Licence (NQDL) and other associated products. As this image is being used the new card cannot be produced at Customer Service Centres so cannot be issued to drivers over the counter.

The new cards will be produced following the stricter security processes used in producing and distributing the new driver licences, authorities and proof of age cards. For improved security, the cards will be printed at a secure location and mailed to you.

Further information about digital photos and the new card technology for Queensland driver licences and industry authorities.

Last updated
08 March 2013