AN environmentally friendly taxi service used by stars, including actress Cate Blanchett, could be shut down just hours into a three-week trial.
The "eco taxi", the first of what was to have been a fleet of 10 green hire cars, began shuttling people around Sydney free on Wednesday during the notorious 3pm change-over - when it is usually nearly impossible to find a regular taxi.
But driver and owner Russell Howarth didn't get far before he was confronted with Ministry of Transport compliance officers and told he would be booked for stopping in taxi zones.
EcoTaxi full business listing on AustConserv
"I pulled up near the Bent St taxi rank and they swooped on me from nowhere and told passengers they couldn't get in the car and that they would shut me down," Mr Howarth said.
"This is an outrage. They were physically trying to stop people getting in the car."
He is giving free rides in protest at being denied a licence to use the hybrid petrol-electric Lexus RX400 vehicles as luxury hire cars because the model's wheelbase is 8cm too short.
That means he is legally not allowed to charge passengers to ride in the eco taxi.
The NSW Ministry of Transport will only allow vehicles with a wheelbase of at least 280cm to be licensed as hire cars.
Transport Minister John Watkins said Mr Howarth had been invited to participate in a review of these hire car standards.
"I'm advised that the car (Lexus Rx400) does not meet the wheelbase regulations, is not a sedan and, although a hybrid, does not meet the requirement to have a five-star efficiency rating," Mr Watkins said.
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