State wins judgment against renegade moving company

The Transportation Services Authority won a $12,000 summary judgment against a Las Vegas mover who failed to pay a fine for operating without a state certificate.

Steven Maresca, owner of Insta-Move, Las Vegas, last year vowed to continue to operate without a license despite being fined because he feels the state certification system is unfair, especially for new companies that have to compete against established movers.

The TSA had issued citations Aug. 4 and Nov. 30, 1998, to Insta-Move for operating without a certificate. Payments of $6,000 were due at the end of March and April 1999.

The judgment was ordered in District Court this month.

Maresca said last year he was frustrated with the state's certification process, which allows established companies to intervene when a certificate of public convenience and necessity is sought by a new competitor or if an existing certificate is amended.

Maresca said he would operate as long as he is able to keep his trucks -- and he fears the TSA may move to confiscate them as they have done with limousines that operate without state certification.

The TSA monitors limousines, buses, towing companies and moving companies that operate statewide and taxis that operate in all but Clark County.

Separately, the TSA commission last week approved four citations and ordered three fines for several different violations.

Action Moving & Storage, Las Vegas, was fined $200 for failing to respond to the TSA enforcement staff's request for a written explanation on a customer complaint.

Garland Knopp, owner of the company, said an internal communications breakdown at his company resulted in his Reno office ignoring the TSA request, resulting in the citation.

The commission also approved $100 fines against Travel Impressions LLC, doing business as Nevada Charter, Las Vegas, and Ignacio Garijo, doing business as Winnemucca Cab.

A citation was issued to Nevada Charter for allowing on two occasions one of its drivers to drive a bus with an expired medical certificate.

A citation also was issued to Winnemucca Cab for failing to report a traffic accident involving a Winnemucca taxicab Aug. 29.

In both cases, company officials could not be reached for comment.

The TSA also issued a citation to Ken Lehman Enterprises Inc., Las Vegas, doing business as SST Towing for charging three customers one-day storage fees and mileage charges instead of flat rates for involuntary tows, in violation of state regulations.

The company denied the allegations, but reached a settlement agreement to reimburse the three customers a total of $112.

A company spokesman could not be reached for comment about the Oct. 18 complaint.

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