DUBBO taxi drivers are pushing for a change to current regulations after a recent string of fines were distributed for drivers being more than three metres from their taxi.
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Taxi Drivers Christine Cole and Athol Opas, with 75 years of taxi driving experience between them, received fines for the regulation established in 1974.
Ms Cole was sitting in Mr Opas taxi, parked behind her own taxi, in the rank when she was booked.
They were discussing business, said Ms Cole, including the letter Mr Opas had sent to the police.
The letter expressed Mr Opas' concern of the number of taxi drivers who were booked in recent times for "trivial" circumstances involving the three metre rule.
Circumstances were similar to Ms Cole's, such as putting rubbish in the bin and filling their car up.
The pair argue the rule needs clarification, as there are a number of grey areas.
"Not everything is black and white," Ms Cole said.
Ms Cole said she was just over three metres from the driver's seat of her car, but was well within three metres from the back of her car.
Drivers can be more than three metres from their taxi if they have their orange 'for hire' light off.
But the 'for hire' light is required to be lit when in a taxi rank.
Ms Cole said she understands the officer was acting to the letter of the law, but "this rule borders on the insane".
"It might be the law, but it's trivial stuff," she said.
Nine years ago the 'Out of Car' service was introduced and authorised by Mr Opas who was a taxi industry director at the time.
The introduction allowed for drivers to step away from their taxi and receive a notification of upcoming jobs.
This rule contradicts the three metre rule and both regulations should work with not against each other, Mr Opas said.
"We've moved on so much with out of car and it's made it so much easier," he said.
"We're not tied to the cab anymore.
"We've got to get rid of the 1974 ruling and get up to date."
Ms Cole joked Workplace Health and Safety encouraged drivers to get out of the cab and go for a walk, but that would contradict the ruling.
The three metre regulation is dated because of the newer technology said Ms Cole.
"We've seen many changes in the time we've been taxi drivers," she said.
"It was a different world back then we used to have to stick our hand out the window to indicate if we were turning," Mr Opas said.
"We've evolved from that."
