The Department of Planning and Infrastructure was sent to investigate the issue last Saturday night and it is believed a man was caught unlawfully picking up people around the nightclub area.

The young man was fined $500 for operating a public vehicle to convey passengers without an appropriate licence.

“Anyone who carries another person for hire and reward must be appropriately licensed with medical, criminal and traffic checks and the vehicle used must also be appropriately licensed and regularly inspected,” a DPI spokeswoman said.

“Travelling with persons and vehicles not licensed potentially leaves that passenger without any recourse in the event of an accident and of course the risk that the driver is not a suitable person, medically or criminal history wise.”

With one offender paying the consequences, Mandurah Taxi drivers are aware there are others still out there offending.

It is understood these taxi impersonators are cruising around the central business district on Friday and Saturday nights, picking up people who are looking for a cheap ride home.

“They are picking people up at the taxi ranks,” Ms Murray said, “especially young girls who have been out drinking.”

The danger of this is that anything could happen to the people in these unlicensed ‘taxis’ and both the driver and passengers would suffer the consequences.

“We understand people get frustrated when they can’t get a cab on a weekend night,” Ms Murray said.

“The biggest concern is the passenger’s safety when they jump into one of these cars with an unlicensed person.

“If they have an accident, there’s no comeback, there’s no insurance.

“All of our taxis are covered by public liability insurance and we are able to track all of our cars so if there ever is an incident, we can locate where the car is or where it has been.”

Ms Murray said they couldn’t do that with private cars.

Mandurah Taxis realised there was a problem when one of their taxi drivers, who was waiting at the taxi rank, noticed one particular car was always waiting there picking up passengers.

His concerns were confirmed when a girl went to get into the unlicensed car and upon realising it wasn’t an actual taxi she got out and climbed into his taxi telling him the man in the other car was charging people to take them home.

They also received an independent report from someone in the area who noticed it happened a lot and was concerned for the passenger’s safety.

“It’s just as dangerous as hitchhiking, hopping into unknown car,” Ms Murray said.

“If these young girls have been nightclubbing they might have had a few drinks and they really don’t know where these guys will take them.

“Hopping into a car with someone you don’t know…it’s scary.

“Anything could happen to those girls.

“I know that if it was my daughter I wouldn’t like her getting into a car with a person who may have been drinking.”

Senior sergeant Jeff Beaman said police never had the power to act but after an agreement with the Department of Planning and Infrastructure they can now prosecute.

“If there is any evidence of it happening (people) should contact the police,” sen-sgt. Beaman said.

Mandurah Taxis in collaboration with the nightclubs in the area have strived to make catching cabs much safer by moving the taxi rank to an area where there is a closed circuit television camera and a security guard in place.

Mandurah Taxis is also planning to increase their number of drivers to cope with the demand over the weekends and wanted the offending drivers to realise that becoming a licensed taxi driver was a very simple thing to do.

“We help them get their licence and pay for all the training required.

“These people can become licensed taxi drivers.”

The Department of Planning and Infrastructure urges anyone with information regarding these matters should report to the Department's Passenger Services Business Unit, Compliance Team on 9216 8746.