Tampa's Limousine Transportation Laws Are Bad Business For All

To avoid transportation hassels stay away from Tampa. This is the message that the Florida Intrastate Transportation Alliance (FITA) is sending out to special event coordinators and conventioneer's. The FITA is currently engaged in a marketing campaign to shed light on the restrictive transportation laws of Tampa which, under penalty of law and criminal prosecution, prohibits any transportation service not licensed by Tampa's regulatory agency from providing transportation within the city and county. In addition, FITA is providing cities that compete with Tampa for large scale special events

with information on this law which prohibits importing transportation to supplement local transportation services for use as ammo in the bidding wars. Cities competing for large scaled special events and conventions must meet three basic requirements. The first are the facilities to hold the event. Second, hotel accomodations for the visitors to the hosting city. Third, a means for the people to get around via mass transportation or nonpublic transportation such as limousines, luxury sedans, vans and small buses. "There isn't a U.S. City that can host a Super Bowl or National Political Convention type event without bringing in transportation help from other areas and Tampa's law effectively prohibits such" explains Walter Kozak of FITA. In addition Kozak points out, "Tampa's transportation is controlled with the only Florida Law governing local transportation issues. As such, local officials cannot just simply waive the provisions setting forth the general intent of the law". For several years members of the FITA have been engaged in fighting this anti-business law that restricts intrastate commerce and travel with politicians turning a deaf ear. In a change of tactics, FITA will challenge in the courts any attemppt by Tampa to allow non-licensed transportation services into Tampa in support of special events. "When Tampa starts losing prized special events because of this Draconian law maybe we'll see changes happening" says Kozak.