Taxi Camera Exonerates Queensland Taxi Driver
Brisbane, Queensland April 25, 2009
It is a sad reflection on society, but it is becoming increasingly clear that there are a large number of female passengers that are prepared to make false statements to the police in order to avoid paying their taxi fare or simply to make mischief.
Unfortunately, what may have seemed quite trivial to them at the time they made their “complaint”, or may even have been considered “a bit of a lark” – a story to tell their girlfriends, the next time they are out for a few drinks on a Saturday night - can quickly escalate to the point where serious charges have been laid and it becomes difficult for them to retract their original statement. The police, quite rightly, take accusations of sexual assault very seriously and must investigate them fully. Rightly or wrongly, the burden of proof often falls on the accused, who is often considered “guilty until proven innocent”.
There have been numerous cases, from countries around the world, where taxi drivers have been falsely accused of sexual assault. It often takes months or even years to clear a driver’s name. Some have even been imprisoned, waiting years to be released (and, belatedly, pardoned) when the facts finally emerge. Even when the charges are eventually dropped, or the case is dismissed by a court, the effect on a driver (who would typically face suspension and loss of income), and his relationship with his family, can be devastating.
Thankfully, with the increased deployment of taxi cameras as part of mandated safety programs, it is possible for false accusations to be quickly investigated without subjecting an innocent driver to the ruinous consequences that an accusation of sexual assault can bring.
Taxi drivers in Queensland can be thankful that the safety camera program, that Queensland Transport mandated in 2005, is among the most effective in the world. There are now cameras in all 3,300+ taxis in the State, and they all work reliably, producing evidence-quality imagery under all lighting conditions. The police know that when they attend a taxi that has been involved in a criminal incident, the pictures will be there and they will be admissible in court. One of the many benefits of the program has been that a driver does not need to think twice before accepting a female passenger, late at night, who may have had one or two drinks too many. Richard Egan, a Brisbane taxi driver, certainly appreciated the fact that his taxi was equipped with a taxi camera when what should have been a simple case of fare evasion rapidly escalated into a situation where he found himself potentially facing charges of assault (full details are provided in the April edition of Oz Cabbie - click on the link above to view the full article).
