The short tracks of the tractor system also made the vehicle relatively unsafe and uncontrollable in some cases.

"It so happens I know a potentially unsafe vehicle that needs inspection."

The driver was ticketed for operating an unsafe vehicle; however, the charges were dismissed after a court appearance.

Many of those operators do not have insurance and drive rickety, unsafe vehicles, the officials say.

The agency added that much of the service was provided by unauthorized drivers, many of whom operated unsafe and uninsured vehicles.

They can force unsafe vehicles off the roads.

Some of those lives could be saved by repairing unsafe vehicles or removing them from the roads.

No unsafe vehicles were allowed on the road because of the investigation and the examinations by the undercover inspector, the officials emphasized.

Officials for the corporation denied that unsafe vehicles were being allowed on the streets.

Public Citizen, a consumer advocacy group, filed suit, saying consumers needed the data to inform themselves about unsafe vehicles and tires.