Nevada regulators fine illegal transportation operators

Friday, May 12, 2000 | 10:58 a.m.

The Transportation Services Authority levied three $10,000 fines against companies agency investigators say have been operating illegally in the Las Vegas area.

Commissioners on Thursday leveled two fines against two companies investigators say operate a household goods moving operation under one roof. Fines were issued to AAA Truck Rental Inc. and to J.J.K. Business Services, doing business as Smooth Moves, for operating without state certification.

In a separate action, the TSA fined limousine driver Rey Vinole, doing business as Highroller Limousine, for operating without certification. Vinole was the driver who was caught on videotape in January telling TSA undercover agents to lie to officers about his limousine's destination if it was stopped.

TSA investigators cited AAA Truck Rental and J.J.K. Business Services after receiving complaints from two different customers. In the TSA's investigation, agents said the companies operated a truck rental company separate from a packing and loading company in an attempt to circumvent state regulations on household goods movers.

Company officials could not be reached for comment.

Vinole, the limousine driver, said he has had to sell his San Diego condominium and close his limousine business in the wake of being fined a total of $13,000 by the TSA for three different citations.

In the most recent case, Vinole was cited and had his vehicle impounded after being caught operating an intrastate route in April. Vinole says he is certified for interstate trips and got into trouble earlier this year for telling passengers to tell agents they were heading for the Arizona side of Hoover Dam when they were actually making a short trip in the Las Vegas area.

Vinole said he is currently driving for AKA Limousine and is not an owner. He said he resents having been "squeezed out" of the industry by larger companies he says have a monopoly on the limousine transport business.

He said he has joined independent limousine operators in a lawsuit against the state filed by the Washington, D.C.-based Institute for Justice.