Cops crack down on illegal taxies in Qingpu (2)

Some drivers try to pass on counterfeit money or steal a passenger's transportation card by swapping it with an empty or expired one, the official said. Moreover, if a passenger has a dispute with an unlicensed taxi driver, it is nearly impossible to seek restitution.

"It is difficult to distinguish between a legal and illegal taxi because they look so much alike," Jiang told the Global Times. "Most passengers won't notice a problem until they've already been cheated."

Authorities will impound any unlicensed taxi discovered in the city. Drivers have to pay a fine of 50,000 yuan ($7,928) to get the vehicle back.