The Florida Intrastate Transportation Alliance

Fact

To Economically Protect The Tampa Taxicabs & Fill Its Coffers, The HCPTC Prohibits Intercounty Motor Carriers Who Have Not Paid Extortion Fees  From Entering Tampa To Load Returning Passengers Who The Motor Carrier Originally Dropped Off. This Is To Include Motor Carriers Licensed Under Other Jurisdictions With Background Investigations, Vehicle Inspections & Insurance Verifications.

All Under The Pretense Of Public Safety

Yet To Avoid Being Crucified By The Tampa Business Community, The HCPTC Allows Unlicensed Limousines & Taxicabs To Roam The Streets Of Tampa For Indefinite Amounts Of Time As Long As The Trip Started Outside Of The  County Without Any Regard To The Fitness Of The Vehicle Or The Driver   

Under Chapter 2001-299 Laws Of Florida It Is Mandated That The HCPTC Shall Regulate Public Vehicles On The Highways Of The County & The HCPTC & Law Enforcement Agencies Shall Enforce The Provisions Of This Act

The HCPTC Has Decided To Cherry Pick Who They Will Regulate

Under HCPTC Rule 1.18 A Non-Licensed Limousine Driver Can Transport Into Tampa, A Bunch Of Gals To Go Club Hopping.

It Doesn't Matter To The HCPTC If:

The Limousine Is Insured

The Limousine Has Had A Safety Inspection

The Driver Has A Criminal Background

It doesn't matter to the HCPTC if an out-of-county limousine transports these club hopping gals into Tampa & while the gals are getting hammered inside the club, the multiple times arrested for DWI driver is in the limo getting hammered  

In Other Words

The Orlando Based Limousine Who Is Licensed By The City Of Orlando, The Driver FBI Screened, The Vehicle's Insurance Verified & The Vehicle Inspected

Would Be Arrested By The HCPTC If Caught Loading Their Orlando Bound Chartered Passengers At The Tampa Cruise Port 

While 3 Times DWI Arrested, Coke Snorting Joey Of Citrus Based Joey's Limousine* Can Haul The Party Gals All Over Tampa With No Checks By The HCPTC

Or 

Convicted Rapist Bob from Pasco Can Transport Teenage Prom Kids Around Tampa 

And The Hillsborough Commissioner's Opposed A Proposed Change In Law To Help Prevent This Through The Creation Of A Regional Agency    

*fictitious company used for example only   

Who's Transporting Hillsborough Prom Kids?

Don't Ask The HCPTC

They Don't Know

If The Transport Started Outside Of The County The HCPTC Does Not Care Who Is Driving The Teenagers

That's Correct! Under the rules of the HCPTC, Tampa Prom Goers can hire a non-Hillsborough based/licensed limousine company, meet the limousine at a location outside of the county for transportation into the county.

Is a Convicted Rapist or Molester driving these teenagers?

The HCPTC'S Response To The Rules Challenge?

That 1.18 was enacted to clarify that the law does not apply to the Coca Cola Executive who rides in a limo from Atlanta through Hillsborough on his way to Naples or to a family being driven from Sarasota to Disney via I-75 & I-4.

Too bad 1.18 doesn't simply exempt interstate transport or intercounty movements.

Of course as the Interstates are not roadways of Hillsborough County, the HCPTC has no jurisdiction in the first place.

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HCPTC FACT

In 2005 Florida Senator Jim Sebesta proposed changing the law to form a regional transportation commission with reps from multiple counties. The HCPTC was opposed to this as they'd rather have unregulated limousines and taxicabs  transporting the public into Hillsborough than give some authority to other commissioners from other counties.

Now, demanding & receiving enforcement of their law will shut down intrastate commerce & start border wars with the Pinellas Taxicabs.

And there isn't shit they can do about it!  

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Who Does The HCPTC Target?

The hard working intercounty airport services needing to enter Tampa just to load their passengers for direct transportation back to home county.

Why? 

If the HCPTC enforced the law as written, hundreds of Pinellas based cabs would be prevented from entering Tampa to do drops at the airport. Pissing the Pinellas cabs off, they may push Pinellas officials to enact similar ordinances closing the door on Tampa cabs.

Prohibiting non-licensed limos and small buses from entering Tampa would be a blow to intrastate commerce & hurt Tampa Businesses putting the HCPTC in a bad light. 

However 

The Law Is The Law & The HCPTC Is Not Empowered To Decide What Will & Will Not Be Enforced  

State Regulation Now!

Ensure The Safety Of All