Las Vegas moving firm vows to defy state regulation

Tuesday, March 16, 1999 | 10:47 a.m.

A Las Vegas mover who was fined $12,000 for operating without a state certificate says he'll continue to conduct business, even if he doesn't get a license.

Steven Maresca, owner of Insta-Move, Las Vegas, said he thinks the state certification system is unfair, especially for new companies that have to compete with established movers.

The Transportation Services Authority of Nevada issued orders last week, fining Maresca and Insta-Move as well as a A-1 Auto, a Fallon-based towing operation that was accused of failing to substantiate charges on a bill.

Insta-Move also was ordered to satisfy a complaint made by a customer who said the company damaged or lost her fax machine in a move.

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

"I don't have a certificate, but neither does anybody else," Maresca said. "The system is completely unfair here. The application (for certification) is about 100 pages long and once you apply, the other companies have the option of saying, 'No, we don't want them in.' It doesn't take a genius to know what they're going to say."

Maresca was referring to the TSA's process that 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.

Insta-Move's owner says he remains on good terms with TSA regulators and that some agency officials have even referred business to him.

"They're just doing their jobs," he said. "They're apologetic about what they have to do and they're secretly on my side. They're doing what the law says. It's the regulations that are bad."

Maresca said he'll operate as long as he's able to keep his trucks -- and he fears some day 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. Lately, the agency has stepped up enforcement efforts against companies operating illegally as carriers of household goods.

In the other action, A-1 Towing was cited on Dec. 8 for failing to substantiate charges on a bill on a tow in Churchill County.

A-1 owner David McCarter admitted to the violation and paid $500 last month as part of a settlement agreement.