David S. Palacios, the Division of Enforcement and Compliance director, said Stocklots Saipan has no pending application to operate taxis on Saipan contrary to what its operator, Ivan Lee, claimed earlier.
Lee said they were waiting for the approval of their license.
There was an intention to apply for a taxi license, Palacios said.
Stocklots Saipan’s operator, however, is not U.S. citizen or an immediate relative of a U.S. citizen and is therefore disqualified to operate taxis.
But Lee can hire U.S. citizens to operate taxis, Palacios said.
Last May and early this month, he said, the Department of Commerce informed Lee to apply for a taxi license because their operation and the type of vehicles they were using fell under the category of a taxi.
The Saipan City Taxi Association and other taxi groups complained about the illegal operation of Stocklots Saipan and Win-Tour.
Palacios said his office already referred the case to the Attorney General’s Office and the Department of Public Safety for proper action.
His letter, he said, will also serve as a warning to Stocklots Saipan if it will continue to operate without a license.
Lee could be arrested and his vehicles impounded, Palacios said.
“We want them to stop their illegal business because it is unfair to the legitimate taxi operators,” he added.
The Department of Commerce also regulates taxi fares and requires all taxi to use meters.
There is, however, no violation if taxi operators give discounted fares to their customers.
But taxi operators cannot overcharge their passengers, Palacios said.
