The Uber mistake you might be making that could cost you $200

AN UBER customer in Western Australia was slapped with a big fine for doing something you might not even know is illegal.

FINISHING off the last few mouthfuls of your drink in the back of an Uber before heading for a night out might not seem like a big deal, but if you are caught it could cost you big time.

One unlucky Western Australian passenger found this out the hard way when he was spotted drinking alcohol in the back of an Uber over the weekend.

READ: Uber driver’s expensive ‘revenge’

Despite his efforts to conceal the drink under his seat he was slapped with a $200 fine for street drinking.

You might want to think twice about finishing off your drink in on the way to your destination. Picture: iStock

The majority of people know it is illegal to drink alcohol while driving but considerably less know that you are also prohibited from doing so if you are a passenger.

It isn’t just Western Australians that need to watch out for this rule. Having an open alcoholic drink in inside an Uber or taxi in Victoria or NSW can see offenders facing fines of up to $1100.

In Queensland if you are caught drinking in a public place, which includes public transport, you can be hit with a $126.15 on the spot fine.

In the Northern Territory you could be risking a $154 on the spot fine and in Tasmania that is bumped up to $314.

If you are caught drinking alcohol in an Uber you will likely face a hefty fine. Picture: Richard Drew/AP

Uber’s Community Guidelines state that having open containers of alcohol in the vehicle is just one of things that aren’t allowed when riding in an Uber.

Other things that violate Uber’s policy include:

• Not having children accompanied by parents
• Touching or flirting with the driver
• Engaging in unwanted contact with your driver after the trip is over
• Asking overly personal questions
• Encouraging your driver to break traffic laws such as speed limits
• Travelling in large groups that exceed the number of seat belts in the car
• Sex between a driver and passenger, even when consensual

If customers break the law or don’t adhere to the guidelines they risk having their Uber account cancelled.