Call for rogue taxi drivers to be reported

The public should report taxi drivers who behave inappropriately, says a transport official. Photo / Bay of Plenty Times

A senior transport official wants the public to dob in taxi drivers who behave inappropriately, after an Auckland driver subjected a female passenger to a two-hour sex attack.

Davood Mazinani, 52, assaulted a drunk 24-year-old he was supposed to be driving home in March last year.

He was found guilty at an Auckland District Court trial of three charges, including one count of abduction for sex. That charge carries a maximum term of 14 years in prison and he will be sentenced this month.

The attack happened after the heavily intoxicated woman was put into Mazinani's taxi to be taken home to Remuera.

He climbed into the back seat and assaulted her after she passed out during the trip. The woman swore at him, but was unable to fight him off.

Mazinani's is the latest court case involving serious sex allegations against taxi drivers, and five drivers currently have their licences suspended as they await trial.

Transport Agency national commercial road transport manager John Doesburg is urging taxi passengers to report any inappropriate verbal or physical behaviour to help it create a profile of potential dodgy drivers

None of the suspended drivers had previous convictions, which made screening for potential predators difficult, he said.

A survey found that while 30 per cent of taxi passengers had been dissatisfied with the service, only 30 per cent of those had officially complained.

"We need to know about it," said Mr Doesburg. "I'm very concerned about the inappropriate sexual behaviour that we have seen. We're trying to hammer down on it because it's very serious.

"The expectation is that you should be safe in a taxi. You take a taxi home to prevent being mugged or raped. It's an indictment on the industry."

Taxi Federation head Tim Reddish was disturbed to hear of the Mazinani convictions but said assaults on women were "extremely rare". Anyone who felt unsafe in a taxi should text or call someone to audibly note the company name, fleet number and driver ID. He also recommended that passengers always sit in the back seat.

Detective Sergeant Andy King, of the Auckland adult sexual assault team, urged drunken revellers to use common sense when taking a taxi.

"We don't want to put people off using taxis, because obviously it's safer than walking home in the dark by yourself, or drink-driving. Hundreds of thousands of taxi journeys are perfectly safe each year. But women should make sure they look after each other and travel in pairs if possible."