Safety, respect and in-vehicle cameras

1. Respect is not optional

Be polite, be on time, and treat the other person the way you'd want your own family treated. This applies both ways — a driver must respect their passengers, and a passenger must respect the driver and their vehicle.

2. Zero tolerance — lifetime ban

We have zero tolerance for misbehaviour. A single credible claim of any of the following can result in the account being banned for life:

• Abusive, threatening or aggressive language or behaviour
• Any form of sexual harassment or unwanted physical contact
• Racism, discrimination or harassment of any kind
• Being under the influence of alcohol or drugs while driving
• Dangerous or reckless driving
• Damaging a vehicle, or refusing to pay for damage caused
• Carrying anything illegal, or asking a driver to break the law

A ban is permanent and applies to any new account the same person tries to create. We do not refund fees on a banned account. Where the law requires it, serious incidents are reported to Police and to NZTA Waka Kotahi.

3. How to report someone

Email hello@backhaulrides.co.nz with the booking details and what happened. We log every complaint and how it was resolved, so we can show the transport authority if asked. If you are in immediate danger, call 111 first.

4. Most cabins are recorded by camera

Backhaul Rides is a platform for commercial drivers, so most of the vehicles you travel in carry an in-vehicle camera recording the cabin. That is not us being nosy — it is a legal requirement for much of the industry.

Under Land Transport Rule: Operator Licensing 2017, a small passenger service operating in a listed urban area must either fit an approved in-vehicle camera or provide services to registered passengers only.

Where a camera is fitted, the rule requires that it:

• is a camera system approved by NZTA Waka Kotahi, and is working
• has an unobscured view of the inside of the vehicle and is visible to passengers
• is signposted — a notice must be clearly displayed inside the vehicle and on the outside of the front passenger door
• is not interfered with
• has its recordings kept for at least 168 hours (7 days) after the trip

The listed urban areas include Whangarei, Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga, Rotorua, Gisborne, Napier, Hastings, Palmerston North, New Plymouth, Whanganui, Wellington, Nelson, Christchurch, Dunedin, Queenstown and Invercargill. Some exceptions apply, so not every vehicle will have a camera.

Sources: NZTA Waka Kotahi, In-vehicle cameras and registered passengers and Approved in-vehicle security camera systems.

5. What footage is used for

The camera belongs to the driver or their operator, not to Backhaul Rides. Footage is there for safety and for investigating incidents, and is released in line with the law — normally to Police, NZTA Waka Kotahi, or where a complaint requires it. Recordings are held by the operator, not by us.

6. Driver responsibilities

If your vehicle needs a camera under the rule, it is your responsibility to have an approved system fitted, working, signposted and retained for the required period. Same as your P Endorsement, licence, Certificate of Fitness and insurance — no valid documents, no jobs on Backhaul Rides.