Charging for a Ride?

drunkmonkey

I'm just curios is it illegal to charge for a ride here and if so does that just apply to cars/trucks/buses or does it extend to horses/bicycles etc.

The Victorian government has just started issuing $1700 fines to users of the app Uber, which has a ride sharing feature where the driver gets paid.

"The Victorian government is cracking down on the "ride-sharing" component of the smartphone app Uber by issuing $1700 fines to drivers.

The app allows any motorist - not necessarily a licensed taxi or hire-car driver - to receive money for providing lifts, in addition to offering authorised taxi and private hire-car services.

Representatives of Victoria's Taxi Services Commission have been using the app to take rides, thus identifying drivers in order to issue fines."

Full story here: Mobile users: http://m.smh.com.au/digital-life/smartphone-apps/victoria-government-issues-1700-fines-to-uber-ridesharing-drivers-as-media-gaffe-surfaces-20140508-zr6yp.html

PC users: http://www.smh.com.au/digital-life/smartphone-apps/victoria-government-issues-1700-fines-to-uber-ridesharing-drivers-as-media-gaffe-surfaces-20140508-zr6yp.html

Frynge

Had such high expectations with that title.

It somewhat makes sense though, as they are essentially unlicensed taxi's. It is hard to explain how it is any different from meeting someone in a hostel and giving them money towards petrol for a lift in the same direction.

Losty Dublin

On the surface, there are three issues at hand.

Firstly, the driver would be operating a car for hire/rewards without a PSV licence.
Secondly, the vehicle would be unlicenced for PSV work.
Lastly, there wouldn't be the relevant public hire insurance cover for the vehicle.

As to throwing somebody a few € for a lift, that's one thing but to do it on an organised level in Ireland you may need a taxi despatch licence as well. Certainly, horse carriages are licenced in Dublin by the city council but the rickshaws/bike cabs are operating outside of PSV regulations as they don't apply to cycles.