Alliance Blasts Tampa Airports Official's Missleading Statements

"Taxis and Van services pay six-figure fees to pick up at Tampa International Airport" is the missleading opening line of an article published by the St Pete Times on June 7, 2007. In trying to justify its pending plan to soak the traveling consumer with additional costs that will result from placing fees upon airport limousine services, TIA Executive Director Louis Miller reveals his lack of understanding of the issues at hand, the law or is hoping that no one else understands, places missinformation into the hands of the Press.

"The truth" explains Walter Kozak, President of the

Florida Intrastate Transportation Alliance, "is that the two taxicab companies that hold approximately 90% of Tampa permitted vehicles pays the airport for the exclusive right to be stationed at the airport and solicit the arriving travelers. An option not available for limousine services and punishable under law if they are caught doing such."

"The truth" continues Kozak, "is that the Tampa Cabbies witness airport limousine services entering to load prearranged and chartered passengers for transport to outlying counties and they want a piece of this action. These limousine services have paid for this authority and right to load passengers at the airport by obtaining through the Hillsborough County Public Transportation Commission (HCPTC), licensing and vehicle permits that are not cheap. Under this licensing and pursuant to Florida Law, no public entity shall levy fees upon the limousine services licensed by the HCPTC and HCPTC Inspectors are based at the airport jailing non-licensed limousine services under the very same law." "Unfortunately for the public, Officials twist the facts to justify their actions and the Reporters are too quick to go to press without fully reseaching the issues and this disservices the public who's going to be stuck paying the taxicab protectionism bill" adds Kozak.