Western Australian Consolidated Acts Western Australian Consolidated Acts (1) For the purpose of
exercising his or her powers under this section an authorised officer may
enter a taxi.
(2) Where an
authorised officer has reason to believe that a vehicle is being operated as a
taxi he or she may —
(a) stop
the vehicle;
(b)
direct the driver to produce for his or her inspection the appropriate
driver’s licence issued under the Road Traffic Act 1974 ;
(c)
direct any person to alight from, or not to enter, the vehicle;
(d)
require information or documentation as to the use of the vehicle from the
driver or any hirer or passenger, and require any such person to state his or
her name and address; and
(e)
inspect the vehicle.
(3) An authorised
officer may require a plate holder, an operator or the provider of a taxi
dispatch service to produce any records, books or documents relating
to —
(a) the
operation of a vehicle as a taxi;
(b) any
bonds referred to in section 36; or
(c) the
taxi dispatch service,
and may take copies
of, or extracts from, anything so produced.
(4) Where an
authorised officer is of the opinion that a taxi is being operated in a
physical or mechanical condition or a state of repair or cleanliness which is
not in accordance with conditions imposed under section 20(1), he or she
may, by notice in writing —
(a)
direct the plate holder concerned, the operator or the person providing the
taxi dispatch service involved to remedy such defects as are specified in the
notice and to take the taxi, or cause the taxi to be taken, within such time
as is specified in the notice, to a nominated place for inspection; and
(b)
prohibit the continued operation of the taxi until it has been inspected and
found to be in a satisfactory condition.
(5) A person shall not
operate a taxi the operation of which has been prohibited under
subsection (4).
Penalty: $1 000.
(6) A plate holder, an
operator or a person providing a taxi dispatch service shall not
fail —
(a) to
comply with a notice given; or
(b) to
rectify any defect that is found during an inspection directed,
under
subsection (4)(a).
Penalty: $1 000.
(7) Where an
authorised officer has reason to believe that a person is operating a vehicle
as a taxi other than in accordance with this Act or the regulations or
any conditions imposed under section 20(1), he or she may require that
person to answer any questions or provide any information, and to produce any
records, books, documents or vehicles.
(8) A person shall
not —
(a)
disobey or fail to comply with a lawful direction or requirement of; or
(b)
furnish false information, or use improper or abusive language to, or wilfully
hinder or obstruct, mislead, intimidate or threaten,
an authorised officer
exercising the powers conferred by this Act.
Penalty: $1 000.
[Section 32 amended by No. 72 of 2003
s. 18.]