The Limos.com Forum Has Moved!!!

http://www.fox41.com/article/view/7896/?tf=wdrbarticleview.tpl

Limo and shuttle company owner says Louisville International Airport regulations, fees favor taxi companies


A Louisville businessman's dispute with Louisville International Airport Authority is heading back to federal court. James Simpson, owner of a limo and shuttle company, claims the airport has intentionally set up a system of regulations and fees which favor taxi companies.

James Simpson is not the first limousine operator to raise this complaint. Operators in many states are fighting airport regulations and restrictions which, they claim threaten their businesses while favoring the taxi industry.

In 1999 James Simpson started a small airport shuttle service. Today, he has 13 vehicles, from sedans to buses, and a long list of corporate and private clients. But the one place where Executive Transporation cannot do business is the airport. Executive Transportation client Marie Abrams says, "He comes on time. He picks up our luggage and we're very disraught that we cannot use his service." Civic leader Marie Abrams was one of several clients who supported Simpson Wednesday as he appealed a decision which bans him from picking up airport passengers.

Beth Breetz, Airport Attorney, says, "Mr. Simpson does not believe the Authority can regulate what he does at the airport. He can drive what vehicles he wants as long as he has some sort of state or federal permits." Breetz says Executive Transporation was banned for continuing to pick up passengers after repeatedly refusing to obtain city and airport licenses.



Simpson claims federal and state licenses are all he needs to operate, and that a 2002 federal law, the RIDE act, was passed to stop airports from imposing fees and restrictions that penalize limos and shuttles. Simpson says, "I think what they try to do is make it difficult for you, as much as they can, to keep you from being able to compete effectively with the demand-type services, which are taxi cabs."



Attorney Walter Bedford says, "I've had conversations with other attorneys in Detroit and Maryland and Miami about the litigation going on here in Louisville, Kentucky." The Airport Authority Board refused to overturn the ban against Executive Transporation. That decision means the dispute will return to Federal Court where the company filed earlier this year. It is a suit the limousine industry is watching closely.

Keep up the fight!

It must be remembered it is not an issue of regulators extorting monies & restricting motor carriers.

It is an issue of holding up & restricting consumer choices!

Tampa area WALMART's are offering some 300 prescription medications for $4. on a 30 day supply. Think the other drug stores will pull a limo operator routine & go boo hooing to regulators?