Selectmen hope a taxi company has learned its lesson about using unmarked vehicles.

A concerned citizen, surprised to be picked up in a private vehicle after calling for a taxi, tipped police off to a local taxi service operating without the proper insurance in mid-February.

The Andover Mega Airport Transportation Taxi & Private Car Livery Service, based at 1 Dundee Park, was given a cease and desist order from Feb. 17 to 20 and cited by police for seven different violations of town rules and regulations regarding vehicle for hire businesses.

Jose Javier, owner of Andover Mega, said a lapse in finances caused his taxi insurance to be cancelled, and he has since been reinsured and is back in business.

"Sometimes you're working as hard as you can, trying to be on time for everything. Times are tough right now, and I was trying to pay my rent, phone bill, everything at the same time," said Javier. "It was just timing. I chose to just park the cars and shut the business down for a week."

All of Andover Mega's taxi plates were reactivated on Feb. 20 and Javier's taxi cars have since passed inspections by the Andover Police. A letter of warning has been placed in Andover Mega's file in the town clerk's office following February's incident.

Andover Public Safety Officer Charles "Chuck" Edgerly said Javier has been "very cooperative."

After receiving an anonymous phone call, Edgerly asked Officer Joseph Davies to dress in plain clothes and call for a taxi from the Andover train station the afternoon of Feb. 17.

Andover Mega Taxi driver Felix Batista arrived in his personal vehicle, without taxi license plates, to pick up Davies. Davies got in, and asked Batista why he wasn't driving a taxi car.

Batista said the taxis were being painted.

Edgerly, in a marked cruiser, soon pulled over Batista and cited him with a town bylaw ticket for operating an unlicensed and uninspected taxi. Batista's taxi license had also expired the month before.

Edgerly spoke with Javier that day, giving him the cease and desist order.

Javier went before the Board of Selectmen for a hearing on March 30, and members decided to take no additional action against Javier.

"It was a mistake and I'm sorry," Javier said to selectmen. "I have to blame myself for what I did. It was something I just did for that weekend. I wasn't trying to get around the system ... They (drivers) did have private insurance, just not the proper kind of insurance."

The board agreed that Javier's days out of business in February was "time served."

"The protection of the citizens of Andover is foremost, and the actions that were taken are inexcusable," said Selectman Brian Major. "That being said, one of the actions I adhere to is being able to take responsibility for your actions."

In business in Andover since 2004, Javier said he has about 30 taxis and 60 drivers. The business handles all types of calls, is open 24/7 and does about 100 trips to the airport each week. Javier said the Andover police have been "very understanding."