Camera surveillance units

The Transport (Road Passenger Services) Regulations 2020 (the Regulations) require providers of on-demand booking services and passenger transport vehicles to ensure that any vehicle used, or intended to be used, for on-demand rank or hail, is fitted with a camera surveillance unit (CSU) that meets the Camera Surveillance Unit Standards 2020 (2020 Standard) and is in working order.

The 2020 Standard supersedes the standards previously released by DoT in 2017 and 2019.

The requirement for on-demand rank or hail vehicles to be fitted with a CSU that meets the 2020 Standard is due to the anonymous nature of rank or hail work. When a taxi driver accepts a rank or hail job, limited details (such as passenger name) are known prior to accepting the job or retained after the job is completed. Inn contrast, on-demand charter PTVs can only accept pre-booked work where job details are known prior to the driver accepting the job and detailed records of who hired the vehicle, who drove the vehicle and the vehicle itself are known. 

The requirement for taxis to have a CSU that meets the required standard protects both the driver and passengers. Other types of PTVs – such as on-demand charter or tourism – may choose to install a CSU. Any CSU installed in a vehicle, where images may be recorded of people inside the vehicle, must be accompanied by signage and be operated in accordance with the Regulations.

	Camera Surveillance Unit Standards 2020	Kb

In line with the chain of accountability approach, the Transport (Road Passenger Services) Act 2018 places a greater responsibility on the on-demand booking service (ODBS) for ensuring that on-demand passenger transport vehicles meet mandated camera requirements. This includes:

• ensuring devices fitted, are of the required standard, and in working order;
• providing and operating systems capable of producing copies of recordings from camera systems;
• ensuring mandated signs are installed notifying passengers that they are being recorded;
• maintaining processes to ensure that recordings are not used for unauthorised purposes; and
• ensuring that recordings are properly disposed of.

Authorised uses of camera system recordings are outlined in the Regulations and include use of recordings by an authorised ODBS in some circumstances.

The on-demand rank or hail vehicle (taxi) should be presented to the ODBS on first installation of the CSU and at least quarterly thereafter for maintenance checking. CSU suppliers or installers should be contacted to obtain user manuals and support for specific CSU models.

To assist ODBSs in assessing the CSU’s standards and operability, a Camera surveillance unit checklist template is provided below. 

CSUs in on-demand rank or hail (taxi) PTVs

The Regulations have introduced some significant camera requirement changes for taxis. By 1 July 2021:

• all taxis in Western Australia must have a camera surveillance unit (CSU) that meets the requirements of the 2020 Standard installed;
• authorised ODBSs will be responsible for providing copies of recordings from CSUs when required; and
• authorised ODBSs can access CSU recordings for specific purposes.

Please note: To provide timely financial relief to the passenger transport industry related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the timeframe for regional and metropolitan taxi operators to install a CSU that is compliant with the 2020 standard has been extended to 1 July 2021 – previously the deadline was 2 July 2020. Visit COVID-19 relief for the passenger transport industry for more information.

CSUs in PTVs other than rank or hail (taxis)

Though CSUs are only mandated for taxis, the Regulations do apply some controls over the use of CSUs in other categories of PTV.

If a CSU is installed in a PTV other than a taxi:

• a clearly visible sign notifying passengers that they are being recorded must be placed inside the front of the vehicle;
• recordings can only be used for authorised purposes as defined in the regulations; and
• copies of recordings must be provided to Police or Authorised Officers (such as DoT Education and Compliance Officers) when required.

Industry is being provided with time to transition to these new rules as follows:

	Camera surveillance unit checklist	Kb

The following devices have been assessed and found to be capable of meeting the requirements of the 2020 Standards as specified in the below table. 

Important: Though these devices may be capable of meeting the required standard, it is the responsibility of service providers to ensure that they are installed and maintained in a way that complies with the relevant standard.

	Camera Surveillance Unit Standards 2020	Kb
	Camera Surveillance Unit Standards 2019	Kb
	Camera Surveillance Unit Standards 2017	Kb

Applications for the approval of new system types for use in the WA rank or hail (taxi) market are encouraged.  Suppliers who would like to market their product for use in WA rank or hail PTVs (taxis) should complete the Camera surveillance unit assessment application (below) and submit via email to On-demand Transport. 

Submissions must include:

• a sample device with all related equipment to enable testing;
• instructional materials for the driver and the download operator;
• Iistallation components and instructions;
• any items of equipment and software required to access recordings on the test device;
• details of any approvals in other Australian states or territories; and
• day/night testing footage recorded on camera's memory for testing and download.

You may be asked to provide access to a test device installed in a vehicle for testing also.

Submissions received will go through an assessment process which may include:

• running the system over the minimum 288 hours recording duration;
• accessing and copying recordings on the system;
• testing the system against current fluctuations; and
• assessment of image quality in both day and night time conditions, using the test chart available on the last page of the ANZPAA Recommendations for CCTV Systems.

Systems that meet some but not all of the required standards may be considered for approval in some circumstances. Devices approved in other Australian states that do not meet all of the requirements of the 2019 standards may also be approved.

Important: Please note that in addition to assessment of a system for use in rank or hail PTVs (taxis), suppliers may also need to seek a modification permit to install the systems under Road Traffic legislation. Details on how to determine if a vehicle modification permit is needed can be found on the Vehicle accessories and fittings page

	Camera surveillance unit assessment application	Kb
	ANZPAA: Resolution test chart for use with ISO Standard 12233