The driving service is exempt from the conditions set by the Department of Planning and Infrastructure for taxi and limousine services which require drivers to be at least 20 years of age, have held an unrestricted driver’s licence for at least one year and pass a medical exam, criminal check and traffic check.

“The Designated Drivers company is not required to be licensed by the Department for Planning and Infrastructure if they are only driving the customer home in the customer’s car,” a DPI spokesperson said.

Local limousine driver Rob Giometti said the lack of licensing for Designated Drivers compromised quality of service and the safety of passengers, saying drivers might have to use their customers’ cars even if they were in poor condition.

DPI conditions also require taxi and limousine drivers to maintain a 0.0 per cent blood alcohol content while on duty while Designated Drivers must only register below 0.05 per cent.

It is also a condition that vehicles used in taxi and limousine services be subject to annual pit assessments.

“The taxi industry is heavily regulated,” Mr Giometti said.

“And heavy is the word.

“Fair enough too, I’d rather see the regulation there than not see it there.”

Mr Giometti conceded the Designated Driver service was a good idea, but he wanted taxi and limousine services to be able to compete with their rates.

“They don’t need to meet the same criteria that we do,” he said.

“It’s not fair.

“I can’t compete, by law.”

Designated Driver Greg Whitfield acknowledged there was a poor relationship between his service and the taxi and limousine services but said it was “personal and business”.

“We’re taking a lot of work off them,” he said, pointing out he was operating within the law.

Mr Whitfield has approached local MP Barry House who may broker a meeting between Designated Drivers and the taxi and limousine service if required.

Mr House said he hoped a resolution could be achieved as he didn’t want Margaret River to lose the popular Designated Driver service.

“I wouldn’t like regulation brought in for the sake of regulation,” he said.

“I think they’re providing a valuable service.”