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The Honduran Institute of Land Transport (IHTT) is working with Roatán tourism operators to regularize minivans and buses already serving tourists and to explore legal frameworks for formal concessions—not to immediately legalize four-door cars as taxis, transport leaders say.

A mobile team from Honduras's land-transport institute began certifying public and heavy-goods drivers in Roatán, marking the first issuance of heavy-vehicle licenses on the island and requiring background checks, drug tests, medical exams, and professional training.

Honduras's transport authority is running inspections across Roatán and Santos Guardiola to seize unlicensed taxis, with violators facing six-month seizures and L11,000 (about $440) fines.

Roatán's mayor's office denied involvement in reports of a L5,000–L5,800 charge on tourist transport operators, saying the Honduran Land Transport Institute (IHTT) called the meeting; an IHTT official clarified the charge is a L2,800 (about $112) permit fee for drivers to legalize licenses.

The Honduran Institute of Land Transport will issue a temporary special permit costing 2,800 lempiras (about $112) to unlicensed tour transport operators in Roatán, allowing them to keep working while they complete the administrative steps required to legalize their vehicles.