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Fares likely to go up 30c to pay for taxi cameras

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Thu, 11 Feb 2010 8:02a.m.

Taxi fares may go up 30c to pay for security cameras

Taxi fares may go up 30c to pay for security cameras

Passengers are likely to pay an extra 30 cents a fare to cover the cost of safety measures in taxis around the country.

The Government and the taxi industry met yesterday to decide how best to upgrade safety for drivers after a cabbie was murdered in Auckland 11 days ago and surveillance cameras or safety screens are likely to be made compulsory.

Hiren Mohini, 39, was repeatedly stabbed in a frenzied attack after an eight minute ride with a passenger from the central city to the Auckland suburb of Mt Eden on Jan 31.

His killer remained on the loose today.

The taxi industry had been discussed ways of improving the safety of drivers and said yesterday cameras may be one solution.

The cost of the cameras would be met by the cab owners and it was likely to add about 30 cents to each fare, the NZ Taxi Federation said.

Mr Mohini was the second taxi drive to be killed in just over a year and many Auckland cabbies said they were too scared to work at night.

A large billboard was erected in busy Fort St overnight asking for help to identify a possible suspect caught on a security camera in the CDB shortly before Mr Mohini's slaying.

The man was carrying a distinctive blue bag and a distinctive black knitted cap.

The bloodstained bag was found near Mr Mohini's taxi and the cap was inside.

Transport Minister Stephen Joyce said it was a sad day for New Zealand that taxi drivers needed such protection from criminals.

"We've all come to the realisation that taxi drivers in New Zealand are less safe than they were and it's not something anybody would wish for, but we have to look very closely at mandating a higher level of safety initiatives -- particularly for those working at night."

Cameras have been installed in taxis in Australia and Mr Joyce said they would be studied before a decision was made about making them compulsory in New Zealand although the decision would come "pretty quickly".

Taxi Federation executive director Tim Reddish said there had been a 70 to 75 percent reduction in attacks on cabbies in Queensland since cameras were installed.

Queensland taxi cameras had three lenses. One caught the passenger getting in, one was in the front seat and one was in the back.

Mr Reddish said there were strict privacy protocols about who could access it.

Anyone with information about the killing of Mr Mohini should call 0800 444014, Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 for anonymous tips or email edgewater@police.govt.nz

NZPA

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Comments

12 Feb 2010 11:07a.m.

bet wrote:


The New Zealand taxi federation shouldn’t be the only organisation made aware of these results. If one is serious about all companies having these systems, then a wider audiance needs to be engaged to help this cause.
The Taxi federation only represents a selected amout of taxi drivers, therefore I feel all ATO’s shouls have this information made available to them.
I am a survivor of a knife attack while I was a member of Wellington Combined Taxis and their motorola system wasn’t working at the time of the attack.
Both myself and their aurtherised repairer made both WCC Taxis and the owner driver aware of these failings two and a half weeks prior to the attack and nothing was done to take the car off the road to have these issues addressed.
This incident happened back in 2000.
I may add that after letters in writing ( to differnt managers over the past 10 years) no responce to my correspondance has yet been received.
They were also prompted by an LTSA member that their responcibility under legislation was to at least acknowledge recept of correspondance. I am yet to receive this letter. Even OSH wrote to them. Promises were made to OSH by WCC taxis that took 2 yrs to implement ( eg the Raywood system). I was never involved in any of the problem resolution process. If their was one!
I felt for the dispatcher at the time as he was new and saw my code: watch me possible trouble and enroute bking into karori district. My emergency button was activated when the knife hit my face and the microphone didn’t work. This was my only way of telling him of my location, and this is the process to record the incident.
He must have felt very helpless, I hope WCC taxis supported him.
Thank god the Police drove past as the knife hit my face. They were great and saved my life.
Thanks and gratitude to the New Zealand Police, Your great guys.

Glenda Hart

12 Feb 2010 09:48a.m.

green cab wellington wrote:

Calling non - federation cab companies in Wellington district.

Reddish is not mouth piece for all industry- non federation cabs MUST get their act together and make submissions to whoever about what we want. Cameras would not have saved this man, a screen may have. If federation think that this is a way to (AGAIN) put pressure on smaller companies and see them too close he is wasting his time. I call on Green Cabs,& Kiwi Cabs Wellington (and any other cab companies) to meet ASAP and appoint spokesperson for Wellington district and confront this issue head on. Dont sit back and be dictated to by an outfit that only represents 1/3 of total industry in nz. This is a deregulated market, I thought words like compulsory were only used over 20 years ago.

11 Feb 2010 03:18p.m.

AMANAKI wrote:

@ GARY......yes fare is 20% cheaper in ozzy but dear friend look at the dollar difference and the fuel price and moreover the size of taxi industry in ozzy is double the size here in nz

My Dad drives a cab in sth aucks. All the time he complain abt rude customers who sometime are racist as well and call him coco etc coz we r originally from pacific. but he never got assaulted as he is a big man. if cctv cameras be installed in cabs it should have recording device as well to record the voices of abusive racist and drunk passengers. my dad always express his frustration of not being able to do anything about such passengers because their ID is unknown but with cctv in cabs i am sure these rude passengers will behave. my dad also tells us that its only about 5 percent passengers who are bad rest 95 percent are good people. our neighbour is also taxi driver and he is from pakistan. his long beard and distinctive cap attracts lot of comments like if he is osama bin laden or if he is a terrorist. with cctv AND RECORDING DEVICE it will all come to an end

11 Feb 2010 02:53p.m.

Ricardo wrote:

Sounds fair to me, what is 30c compared to safety for all concerned. A byproduct might be a general improvement of behaviour by losers.

11 Feb 2010 01:49p.m.

anji wrote:

I agree with Katrina, what is 30cents compared to a person's life that could be saved...

11 Feb 2010 01:10p.m.

Ruz wrote:

Installing security camera's in cabs is just another busienss expense that shouldn't automaticlaly be passed on to the fare paying public. As noted by Garth I doubt tghat the fares will drop once the costs of the cameras has been recouped. And what about those cabs that do not install cameras - will they increase their fares?

11 Feb 2010 09:50a.m.

katrina wrote:

30 cents is nothing. It costs rate payers a lot more than that when they have to investigate a murder. Garth get a grip on reality, taxi drivers would not need to do this if it weren't for the looney customers and by the time the cameras etc are paid off they will probably need replacing, everything has a limited life span. If you don't like it catch a bus.

11 Feb 2010 09:09a.m.

Gary wrote:

They do have cameras in cabs in Brisbane yet it costs about 20% less for a taxi there than in Christchurch for an equivalent journey. Someone is taking us for a ride!

11 Feb 2010 08:49a.m.

Obiwan wrote:

A shame it had not been done earlier....

11 Feb 2010 08:42a.m.

Garth wrote:

more costs to public, will fares drop once the cameras or screen have been paid for , doubt it.
fares will go up for gst too no doubt.