The Pahrump Express bus into Las Vegas was shut down by regulators last Thursday, less than a week after starting operation.

Some angry passengers were caught without transportation to work in Las Vegas on Friday morning.

Luanna Smith, assistant manager of Regent Holidays, operators of the bus, said it is required to have a special permit from the Transportation Services Authority to run the Pahrump route.

"We're down temporarily. We won't know anything I'd say for the next week," Smith said. "It's just TSA requires a special license in order for us to sell tickets. We don't have that. Our intentions are as soon as we can we'll start up the service."

A voice mail message on the telephone of Deborah Poulter, the manager of Pahrump Express, stated she would be gone from June 12 to June 23.

Yesterday Ed Hecksher, one of the drivers, said, "We're not down and out, and we want the people to know that. It's a minor setback, and we're going to come back -- and come back strong."

Mike Bradford, chief of enforcement for the Nevada Transportation Authority, confirmed his agency stopped the bus in Las Vegas on its regular run Thursday.

"There were some issues about licensing, I don't think anything intentional," Bradford said. "I believe there was a meeting already. Then they're on their way to correcting whatever is wrong."

The shutdown didn't involve a lack of insurance, he said.

Smith said only one passenger was on the bus at the time.

Hecksher said the halt to service caught the company "completely by surprise." He said he perceived a lot of positive reaction to the whole idea of a regular bus schedule to Las Vegas.

Asked about how long the delay might be, Hecksher said, "Well, this is a government agency, but we have several county commissioners who want this squared away, and we hope they can get something done."

The Pahrump Express began operation Friday, June 6, with 55-passenger buses providing four daily departures into Las Vegas for a round trip fare of $18.

A message on the company's tollfree telephone line states: "We're sorry to inform everybody that right now we are out of service, shut out by the state of Nevada, but we hope to be back doing our run between Las Vegas and Pahrump within two to three months, maybe a little bit longer, maybe a little bit sooner. Right now we're really not sure."

Julie Powers, assistant manager for Pahrump Valley Taxi, said her company didn't notify authorities, though a taxi driver last week complained the bus would compete with its airport business.

"They have to apply for the licensing and that could take several months. Their job is to make sure they're properly insured in case anything happens to a customer," Powers said.

"It's a service that is needed and even as a cab company, we'll say that. We don't want anybody coming in here illegally either. We have to pay for all the inspections," she said.

The Nevada Transportation Authority regulates an assortment of passenger services outside Clark County including shuttle buses, charter buses, limousines and taxis.

"All sides are in the process to rectify this as soon as possible," Bradford said, admitting Pahrump had a need for bus transportation to Las Vegas.