DPS launches ‘Clean Sweep’ in Garapan

By Marconi Calindas
Reporter

The Department of Public Safety is attempting to put a stop to the nagging problem of overly aggressive solicitations on Saipan’s main tourist area through “Operation: Clean Sweep,” which it kicked off last night.

The program, according to DPS spokesman Eric David, aims to stop loitering, illegal parking, and illegal taxi operations in Garapan and other areas by having lawmen scour the streets of Garapan from 6pm to 2am.

David said the anti-loitering initiative is in line with the newly enacted Public Law 14-50, which amended Article 1, Division 3, Title 6 of the Commonwealth Code by adding a new section which states that “loitering outside a business establishment on a public thoroughfare for the purpose of luring, enticing or soliciting persons for commercial gain is prohibited.”

Last night, a DPS team composed of 15 police officers walked the streets of western Garapan to uphold the new law. The monitoring aims to capture people who would shout, loudly call other persons to lure, entice or solicit for commercial gain, whether for legal or illegal purposes.

David also said the operation would catch persons who would physically touch or grab another person for the purpose of handing out flyers or handbills regarding a commercial establishment for a fee, or to attract a person, again for commercial gain.

DPS had received several complaints about women who would follow a person walking along Garapan streets for entertainment or invitation to come into establishments.

This time, David said that anybody working for any of the establishments in Garapan who is loitering outside or across the establishment and is shouting to invite tourists or bystanders would be arrested because this behavior is against Public Law 14-50.

He said the operation would initially concentrate on western Garapan and would eventually expand outside the area.

DPS Commissioner Santiago F. Tudela said the operation intends to stop prostitution in Garapan. Tudela, who is set to leave for security training in Washington, D.C. next week, joined his team yesterday during the roundup.

Aside from the anti-loitering operation, DPS will also monitor illegal taxi operations and illegal parking as part of the Clean Sweep program. Tudela said the DPS alone cannot apprehend illegal taxi operators, but with the help of the Department of Commerce, they could apprehend these violators.

DPS would check the business licenses of the taxis and if they are caught without them, David said that DPS would give them multiple citations, referring them to the Commerce Department.

For illegal parking, David said DPS is aiming to cite operators or drivers parking on sidewalks and on areas where parking is not permitted.

DPS’ “Operation: Clean Sweep” is in cooperation with the Division of Immigration, the Department of Labor, the Department of Commerce, the Division of Revenue and Taxation, and the Attorney General’s Office Investigative Unit.