TAXI drivers face losing their licences if they try to rip off tonight’s revellers by hiking up their fares or touting for business.
Destination shopping is also banned and taxis cannot refuse fares, with compliance officers patrolling the city cracking down on renegade drivers.
Transport Minister David Campbell warned the anti-touting legislation would be enforced with $150 on-the-spot fines.
Repeat offenders can have their licence cancelled.
Mr Campbell urged people to take advantage of the extra public transport services. there will be an extra 1500 train and 3300 bus services rolling out from 2pm.
He said CityRail new Year’s Eve return tickets would be valid for return to midday tomorrow.
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Special event clearways were enforced around the city from 2am today and most road closures shutting down the city and North Sydney will be completed by 7pm.
The Harbour Bridge and Cahill Expressway close from 11pm. the Bridge will reopen at 1am.
The ANZAC Bridge and Western Distributor will be closed to citybound traffic from 8.30pm to 9.30pm and from 11.30am to 1am.
Secure taxi ranks will be patrolled by security guards and 10 new taxi pick-up and drop zones were approved for the city in a bid to head off potential chaos among partygoers searching for a cab.
The City of Sydney provided the extra taxi ranks at key locations in the CBD.
Over the past year city authorities have investigated more sites with one-minute no-stopping exemptions for taxis to make it less stressful for people trying to catch a cab.
City of Sydney director of community and cultural services Garry Harding said taxis were an important transport link, integrating with other services.
“The introduction of additional taxi set-down/pick-up zones in the city will assist cabbies in doing the right thing when picking up fares,” he said.
“With more than 400 cabs at taxi ranks during peak period demand we need them to be safe and efficient when stopping in and around the city centre.”
A spokeswoman said yesterday the new taxi sites would be permanent and allow taxis to legally pick up and set down passengers more easily during the biggest events in the city.
The new sites, including stops in Elizabeth, Sussex, Phillip, George, Goulburn and Pitt Sts, will operate until road closures come into effect and will resume when the roads open.