Firm sues state over transportation rule

Friday, Jan. 22, 1999 | 10:19 a.m.

The operator of a small transportation company in Pahrump has filed a $30 million suit against the state Transportation Services Authority.

Carroll "Jim" Wallace, owner of Tecopa Hot Springs Transportation Inc., filed the suit on Thursday in U.S. District Court, alleging the TSA has prevented his company from growing through harassment and interference.

Wallace, who has been blind for 64 years since he was a youngster, has operated Tecopa since 1982 and has two employees who run a 15-passenger van between Pahrump, Primm and Las Vegas two days a week.

Wallace said his clientele is mostly Pahrump senior citizens who make weekly shopping and gambling trips. He makes a run to Primm on Tuesdays and to Las Vegas on Thursdays. Occasionally, he said, he operates trips to Laughlin and Jean.

Frances Arenas, manager of transportation for the TSA, said Tecopa is a certificated carrier in the state. The company's certificate, approved by the Public Utilities Commission -- the TSA's predecessor -- in 1983, defines the service the company can provide.

The certificate says Tecopa can provide "transportation of passengers and their baggage and light express in the same vehicle with passengers between the California-Nevada state line on State Route 372 and Las Vegas and a five-mile radius of the city limits via State Route 372, State Route 160 and Interstate 15, serving all intermediate points and off-route points of Blue Diamond."

But Wallace says the TSA has curtailed his growth over the years.

"For approximately 10 years, the (TSA) has violated ... rights to conduct business through calculated acts of harassment and interference," Wallace's suit says. "These acts of outright lies, harassment and interference has stifled growth, limited ... operation and cost ... millions in income revenue."

Citing one example, Wallace said the TSA prevented him from taking on a California-based partner to expand his operation.

Wallace also alleged numerous violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act by the TSA in its dealings with him.

Arenas said the agency has been conscious of Wallace's disability and has translated all documents to Braille, a process that has taken additional time.

Wallace decided to file the suit after the TSA approved certification of a competitor that will offer daily bus service between Las Vegas and Pahrump.

Acme Bus of Nevada Inc., a subsidiary of the 50-year-old Acme Bus Co., has begun service between Terrible's Town Casino in Pahrump and the Downtown Transportation Center in Las Vegas.

Star Transit, Sierra Nevada Stage Lines and Tecopa are the other competitors on the route.

Wallace said he doesn't expect the state to come up with the $30 million demanded in the suit.

"I just hope to get my rights straightened out," Wallace said."They've stopped me on every sale and they want to make an example of me. I just want them to leave me alone."