Safety cameras in taxis
Safety cameras are compulsory in all taxis operating in the metropolitan, outer-suburban (Dandenong and Frankston) and urban (Geelong, Ballarat and Bendigo) taxi-cab zones to improve safety for passengers and drivers. Safety cameras have been installed in the taxi fleets operating at Shepparton and on the Mornington Peninsula. From 1 July 2012, safety cameras will also be compulsory in all country taxi zones serviced by ten or more taxis.
Information on this page
- How the cameras work
- Privacy measures
- Implementation of next generation taxi safety cameras
- Approved camera systems
- About the new specifications
- Camera suppliers
- Information for camera suppliers
How the cameras work
Safety cameras operate automatically when triggered by specific events such as the opening or closing of a door. Images are then automatically recorded.
Following the report of an incident to the Victoria Police, images can be downloaded. Only the police can determine if an incident warrants a download.
Only a limited number of Victorian Taxi Directorate (VTD) staff are authorised to download images from the cameras.
Taxi drivers and taxi owners do not have access to images collected by the cameras under any circumstances.
Privacy measures
Ensuring the privacy of taxi passengers and drivers is paramount. The purpose of the cameras is to record incidents or assaults in taxis for investigative purposes. Images of everyday passenger trips are not viewed or retained by any person. Stickers are attached to each exterior door of the taxi and on the dashboard to tell passengers there is a camera system operating in the taxi. Victoria’s privacy legislation prohibits audio recording in taxis.
See Victorian Taxi Directorate Privacy Statement (PDF, 79 KB, 1 p.).
Implementation of next generation taxi safety cameras
The VTD is currently implementing a phased introduction of ‘next generation’ taxi safety cameras approved under specifications released in July 2009, and the phasing out of older-model cameras. The VTD is currently working with safety camera suppliers to determine the cost of new cameras.
Taxis operating in the Metropolitan, Outer-Suburban and Urban (Geelong) taxi-cab zones & taxis operating at Shepparton and the Mornington Peninsula:
| Date |
Action |
|---|---|
| From 1 July 2011 | When preparing a new vehicle to be licensed as a taxi, or replacing a damaged camera, a camera system approved by the VTD under the 2009 specifications must be installed. |
| From 1 July 2012 |
All taxis must be fitted with a camera system approved by the VTD under the 2009 specifications except that taxis fitted with a VerifEye TSCS Mk IV camera system that was already fitted and operating in the taxi as at 30 June 2011 may continue to operate with that camera system until 30 June 2013. All other 2001 specification camera systems cease to be approved on 1 July 2012. |
| 1 July 2013 | Taxis that were operating with a VerifEye TSCS Mk IV camera system fitted as at 30 June 2011 must from 1 July 2013 be fitted with a camera system approved by the VTD under the 2009 specifications. |
Taxis operating in the Urban (Ballarat and Bendigo) taxi-cab zone:
| Date |
Action |
|---|---|
| From 1 July 2011 | All taxis must only be fitted with a camera system approved by VTD under the 2009 specifications. |
Country taxis operating at locations supporting 10 or more taxis:
| Date |
Action |
|---|---|
| During 2011/early 2012 | Order and have installed a camera system approved by VTD under the 2009 specifications. Installation must be completed by 30 June 2012. |
| From 1 July 2012 | All taxis must only be fitted with a camera system approved by VTD under the 2009 specifications. |
Country taxis operating at locations supporting less than 10 taxis:
| Date |
Action |
|---|---|
| At any time |
May install a camera system approved by VTD under the 2009 specifications. Installation is not compulsory, but installation must be registered with the VTD. |
If you have any questions about the implementation, please contact the VTD.
Approved camera systems
As at 1 July 2011, the following taxi safety cameras systems have been approved by the Victorian Taxi
Directorate:
Taxi safety cameras approved under the 2009 Taxi Safety Camera Specifications
| Camera make |
Model |
Approved |
|---|---|---|
| VerifEye | Taxicam Mk IV Rev.K | October 2010 |
The following camera systems are no longer approved for installation. Vehicles that are currently fitted with one of the following camera systems must have that system replaced with a camera system approved under the 2009 Taxi Safety Camera Specifications from 1 July 2012
| Camera make |
Model | Approved |
|---|---|---|
| Raywood | RDC 3020 Snapshot | November 2001 |
| Martin (Martin Meters Tullamarine) |
Cabcam DV In-Cab Digital Video Recorder | June 2002 |
| Sigtec | Sigtec MK III | July 2002 |
| Infonics (formerly Bitron) | Arkive 32 | July 2002 |
The following camera system is no longer approved for installation. Vehicles that are currently fitted with the following camera system must have that system replaced with a camera system approved under the 2009 Taxi Safety Camera Specifications from 1 July 2013:
| Camera make | Model | Approved |
|---|---|---|
| VerifEye | VerifEye TSCS Mk IV Taxicam | October 2008 |
If you have any questions about the implementation, please contact the VTD.
About the new specifications
The specifications reflect work at a national level to improve taxi camera capability and performance, and advances in technology since the original camera specifications were developed.
The advantages of camera systems approved under the 2009 specifications include:
- increased memory capacity
- continuous recording instead of triggered snap-shot images
- faster easier downloads
- significantly improved image quality
- longer image storage periods, and
- an improvement in system security.
These new cameras will improve taxi driver and passenger safety by assisting Victoria Police to identify and prosecute offenders.
- Victorian Taxi-Cabs Safety Camera Standards and Procedures 2009 (PDF, 737 KB, 22 pp.)
This document details the roles and responsibilities of stakeholders, including taxi operators and drivers, camera suppliers, Victoria Police and the Victorian Taxi Directorate, and sets out the policy framework for the taxi safety camera scheme in Victoria.
Camera suppliers
VerifEye
| Telephone | 07 5456 2277 |
|---|---|
| PO Box 819 Kunda Park QLD 4556 |
|
| Website | VerifEye |
Information for camera suppliers
Camera suppliers are required to read the Approval Requirements (PDF, 768 KB, 10 pp.) document and then complete the Statement of Compliance which is available in Word format (690 KB, 34 pp.) or PDF format (315 KB, 34 pp.).
The Private Security Act 2004 (Victoria) requires installers of security equipment (and businesses that employ installers) to be registered as a security business. Contact details and further information about the registration process are available on the Victoria Police website.
In addition to the Taxi Safety Camera Approval Requirements, camera suppliers are also required to submit evidence of the appropriate security business registration. A certified copy of your registration certificate or written confirmation from Victoria Police will satisfy this requirement.