Lawsuit Could Cripple Transportation During 2009 Super Bowl

2007/01/29 16:52

Press Release from:

Florida Intrastate Transportation Alliance

The Florida Intrastate Transportation Alliance is in the information gathering process of a planned Federal Lawsuit seeking an order that will force Tampa's transportation regulatory agency to apply its guiding Florida Law evenly to all transportation companies.

Tampa's transportation regulatory agency, the Hillsborough County Public Transportation Commission is madated under state law to apply specific licensing upon limousine and taxicab operations and drivers providing for-hire transportation on the public roadways of the county that Tampa is located in. Motor Carriers not in

compliance of this law are routinely arrested and vehicles are seized by officials of the HCPTC even if engaged solely in intercounty transportation of passengers. Yet, the HCPTC has for past Super Bowls allowed scores of transportation services operating hundreds of vehicles into Tampa without the mandated licensing, permitting of vehicles and licensing of drivers.

FITA will file suit to end this practice under in part, a 14th Constitutional Ammendment Complaint. What will be sought from the courts is an order that the HCPTC will apply the same licensing requirements to transportation services of the Super VBowl and NFL as applied to motor carriers on any other given day of the week under penalty of law.

Says Walter Kozak, President of the FITA, "If the enforcement of this Tampa taxicab protection law that inhibits and restricts intrastate commerce and travel results in a severe shortage of transportation for the Super Bowl, too bad".