Stolen from "Refusal of Fare":

"Driver of a taxi-cab may refuse to accept a hiring if the intending passenger is a person who is, or who is carrying a thing that is, likely to soil or damage the taxi-cab or the clothing or luggage of other passengers, or to otherwise cause inconvenience, a nuisance or annoyance to other passengers or to the driver"

In a nutshell, yes the cabbie has legislation and can refuse drunk passenger/s if the driver suspects that there is a reasonable chance the passenger will vomit and soil the cab, its occupants, or its driver.

There is legislation that covers this, but what we don't have is a crystal ball.

As a driver, I have absolutely no idea how each trip is going to go until the person has been in the car for a minute or two. All I can do is have a few rules in place to improve my chances (eg always position the car so that I can go forward straight away).

Jobs that you initially think will go bad end up going well. Jobs that you think are safe end up going bad. You never know until the end.

With this one, they were extremely arrogant. Although irritating (eg two of them insisted on smoking cigarettes in the taxi, no matter what I said), it wasn't until the final few seconds when things got physical. I was trying to get out of there, when one of them punched me in the face.

No logical reason. No provocation.

If it all happened again there isn't anything that I could have done differently. There were no warnings signs. It was completely spontaneous and unjustified.

Good to hear, am I right in assuming that none of this helps pay for your teeth and that this would be handled separately as a civil matter?

Yep. Taxi drivers are all self-employed. There is no insurance or coverage of any sort (ie workers comp).

There will be the likelihood of a criminal compensation claim, so I'll have to look into that.

There is legislation that covers this, but what we don't have is a crystal ball.

As a driver, I have absolutely no idea how each trip is going to go until the person has been in the car for a minute or two. All I can do is have a few rules in place to improve my chances (eg always position the car so that I can go forward straight away).

Jobs that you initially think will go bad end up going well. Jobs that you think are safe end up going bad. You never know until the end.

With this one, they were extremely arrogant. Although irritating (eg two of them insisted on smoking cigarettes in the taxi, no matter what I said), it wasn't until the final few seconds when things got physical. I was trying to get out of there, when one of them punched me in the face.

No logical reason. No provocation.

If it all happened again there isn't anything that I could have done differently. There were no warnings signs. It was completely spontaneous and unjustified.

Totally get that Phil. My reply was in relation to Z2TT who asked about the cartage of intoxicated persons, and what legislation covers the drivers.

that's why in closing, I said you dont need to be drunk to throw a punch.

Have the big exhaust back on my car.. Drove it back to the office last night to scan some documents.

Got drag raced 3 times.. Lost 3 times.. Very impressed the P Plater in the hilux spun a wheel also..

Now I understand why I made it quiet..

typical of commodore's there, NHASP - lot's of noise and no go.

Yeah would help if the driver put his boot into it.

But I need a license.

Was it a v6 hilux? Some carnt caught off guard in the fg and I was bloody shocked at how quick it was off the line. Just edged passed him as I changed into 2nd then he had nothing. Still I was impressed none the less

should have driven it to work with no rear mufflers

Many moons ago used to drive an '88 hilux with mighty 2L 3Y motor

Diff ratio 4.8:1, used to chop anything to 20kmh

Yeah barnz....theres a few random cars which can get you when you're not suspecting it.

VW golf gti got me once and it sh*t me...it was a 70kmh rollon and could have sworn the fg should have him. But then again I stopped when it started reaching triple digits

Same with a TT (newish one I think)...I just get annoyed when they are really close and the only reason they finish slightly ahead was due to them flooring it first and then you trying to play the catch up game. Then the dickhead passenger will stick his hand out and do the whole chop chop scissor sh*t .... cause sick kunt

But Panda has it right...I should addopt his attitude more