He said they have to “program” the taxi meter and inspect whether it complies with the law before it is sealed to prevent tampering and unauthorized alteration.
The division, which is under the department, has yet to receive complaints regarding tampered taxi meters but Palacios said they were informed about “overcharging” by some taxi drivers operating on Saipan.
Rabby Syed, Saipan City Taxi Association president, said illegal taxi operators are probably “doing these unlawful activities.”
“It’s not happening in our association,” he told Variety.
Syed said he “strictly monitors” his members and has yet to receive complaints from passengers about overcharging.
The fare rate is posted in each taxi in Japanese, Chinese and Korean, Syed said, adding that it’s “impossible” to cheat the passengers.
Palacios said they continue to go after illegal taxi operators on Saipan.
The department believes that there are about 120 illegal taxis on island.
Early this year, the Department of Public Safety launched a campaign against illegal taxi that resulted in the arrest of at least 30 illegal taxi drivers.
“We have to clamp down on this illegal operation because they are not paying taxes and it is detrimental to our economy,” Palacios said.
Syed said his group provides special offers to their passengers, who are mostly tourist.
He said they charge only $30 per hour of sightseeing around the island and provide a 25 percent discount in the meter rate from the hotel to the airport.
The flag down rate is $2.50 on top of an additional 75 cents for each quarter mile.
