PENDLETON — Faux-taxi drivers were a bigger problem this Pendleton Round-Up than in years past, Pendleton police Lt. Bill Caldera said. Officers stopped several drivers who offered rides for free or on the cheap, but who didn’t have a city business license or a taxi driver permit.

Police warned at least nine people for giving rides and gave tickets to two for operating without a business license. Caldera said the main issue is making sure someone isn’t taking funds from a legitimate business, but the would-be drivers also present other problems for police.

“A lot of the time they are offering free rides and accept donations in return,” he said, and not all riders are willing to hand over a donation. There also are safety issues, he said, such as liability when someone falls out of the back of a pickup.

Rod Johlke owns and operates Elite Taxi, which has an exclusive license with the city to provide taxi service.

“We do background checks on our drivers, we make sure our cars are insured,” he said.

The Pendleton City Council passed an ordinance in 2007 that mandated criminal background checks of certain public service volunteers with the city and for contracted tow truck and taxi drivers, liquor license applicants and certain nonprofit volunteers.

Johlke said the city’s rules give the police teeth to protect the general public from fly-by-night drivers.

Most would-be ride givers complied when police told them to quit, but not all. Two people were ticketed for operating without a business license.

A city business license costs $100; the ticket could cost them $500, Caldera said. The two have to appear in court Oct. 15 and 16.