Report Finds Multiple Problems at Taxicab Commission

An Inspector General’s report issued Wednesday found missing taxi medallions, misplaced money, and broad failure to follow established procedure at the Virgin Islands’ long-troubled Taxicab Commission.

The report, compiled by Virgin Islands Inspector General Delia M. Thomas, covers operations at the commission from 2018 to 2022. Inspectors found multiple problems at the Taxicab Commission:

It did not responsibly maintain accurate medallion registries and implement biannual inspections of taxis.

It did not follow established rules and regulations for medallions auctioned.

It did not approve the issuance of taxi licenses in accordance with established laws, rules, and regulations.

It failed to appropriately safeguard and account for revenue collections.

Commission officials did not safeguard the physical condition of all medallion registries or even keep complete and accurate medallion registry records.

The commission did not always ensure that medallion owners’ files contained required documents

It failed to ensure all its medallions were accounted for.

It accepted late payments from two customers for medallions sold at auctions and allowed two medallion bid winners to pay less than the 10% required.

The commission also did not return an extra $200 that a customer overpaid for a medallion.

It issued certificate of entitlements and medallions to nine auction buyers up to seven months late.

It approved taxi licenses for 10 applicants who did not meet the exam requirements.

It did not conduct routine taxi patrols.

Commission officials deposited $44,622 in revenue collections late and, separately, posted $258,342 in other cash revenue collections late.

It regularly failed to report revenue to the government’s Enterprise Resource Planning system, which keeps track of collections — not reporting $54,811 from medallion sales and bungling reports for another $18,587 in cash payments.

The alleged mismanagement resulted in lost records and revenue, potentially unfair medallion auctions and taxi drivers, potentially unsafe vehicles, and general confusion.

Information about medallions was at risk of being lost and could not be verified independently, the report said. Thirteen unsold medallions were unaccounted for, potentially missing since at least 2005.