In-vehicle cameras and registered passengers

If your small passenger service operates in an urban area listed in the Operator Licensing Rules 2017, your vehicles need to either have an in-vehicle camera or only provide services to registered passengers.

Urban area

Operator Licensing Rules 2017

Exceptions to these requirements apply in circumstances where:

• the vehicle is provided by a passenger in a dial-a-driver service or by a driver in a facilitated cost-sharing service
• the service provided is exclusively pre-booked and a special occasion vehicle hire, a short duration package tour, a government service under a long-term contract, or a specialist chartered based service.

How to decide if you need an in-vehicle camera

You can use this flowchart to help you decide if you need an in-vehicle camera. 

Do I need an in-vehicle camera? Decision-marking flowchart [PDF, 34 KB]

If cameras are installed in your vehicles, you must meet the requirements for cameras in the Operator Licensing Rule 2017.

In-vehicle camera requirements

If you have decided an in-vehicle camera is required in your vehicles, you must ensure the camera system:

• is approved by the Transport Agency, and
• is operating, and
• has an unobscured view of the inside of the vehicle.

In addition:

• The in-vehicle camera must be visible to passengers, and fitted to capture them.
• A notice advising passengers of the camera must be clearly displayed inside the vehicle and on the outside of the front passenger door.
• The in-vehicle camera must not be interfered with.
• Recorded material must be kept for at least 168 hours after the completion of a trip.

Approval of in-vehicle camera systems

You can either use an in-vehicle camera system that has already been approved by the Transport Agency, or apply for approval for a camera not on the list.

In-vehicle camera system that has already been approved

If you want to use an in-vehicle camera system not already approved, you’ll need to read the guidelines for in-vehicle cameras and complete an application form to get approval from the Transport Agency before you use it.

In-vehicle cameras and complete an application form

For more detailed information you can read sections 3.10-3.12 in the Operator Licensing Rules 2017.

Sections 3.10-3.12(external link)

Operator Licensing Rules 2017

Registered passengers

If you provide small passenger services to registered passengers, you do not need an in-vehicle camera. The purpose of the registered passenger alternative is to ensure a driver and passenger can be identified and found if an investigation into an incident is necessary.

We expect operators offering services to registered passengers to have a registration process that captures people’s details before the service is used. A register can be a database or document and can be on paper or electronic. It must gather enough information about a passenger so they can be identified and found – for example, name, address, phone number, email, photo or some combination of those elements.

The operator needs processes in place to make available identifying information about the driver (eg driver ID) and the passenger before each trip, and retain this information for 168 hours after the trip.

A detailed record of the trip must also be kept for 168 hours after its completion.

Urban areas

Below is the list of urban areas outlined in Schedule 2 of the Operator Licensing Rule 2017. Small passenger service vehicles operating in these areas require an in-vehicle camera system. If you only provide small passenger services to registered passengers, you do not need an in-vehicle camera.

Schedule 2 of the Operator Licensing Rule 2017(external link)