The Limos.com Forum Has Moved!!!

Tampa's Limousine Regulator the Hillsborough County Public Transportation Commission is an independent administrative agency created by a special act of the Florida Legislature. The purpose & marching orders of the HCPTC is enforcement of the special act. Contained within the special act are definitions of vehicles that fall within the regulatory of the HCPTC and these vehicles are defined as "public". One category of public vehicles are "limousines" which are defined under statute as, "any vehicle not equipped with a taximeter with a capacity for 15 passengers or less". To raise the operating costs of motor carriers providing non-taxicab transportation and therefore being regulated into the limousine category, the HCPTC has enlarged the definition given under law to restrict limousine operators to expensive luxury vehicles of which the traveling consumer of whom many are reliant upon nonpublic type transportation to & from the interstate hubs in Tampa must shoulder the extra cost of being restricted to luxury transportation as well as a myriad of additional economic regulatory placed on motor carriers such as insurance coverage 3X that of taxicabs & vans. This is done to protect the Tampa Taxicab Industry as well as certain elements of the luxury limousine industry who would lose customer bases if motor carriers were allowed to utilize more moderate priced vehicles and subsequently pass the cost savings onto their customers.

Last year Pinellas County based Moshe Leib attempted to place into service the first Hybrid vehicle in the Tampa Bay area, a Toyota PRIUS which is now in service by limo ops in numerous states. The PRIUS is black and Leib custom ordered black leather interior for this vehicle to match his fleet of "L" TC's. He approached the Director of the HCPTC about obtaining a permit for the PRIUS and was informed that he would have to submit a waiver to the commission. Working within the rules of the agency, Leib submitted for a waiver & the Commissioners without much discussion told him to fark off.

Under his rights, Leib filed in Federal Court a Complaint covering various issues including that the luxury vehicle rule unlawfully enlarges the law set by the FL Legislature & Interstate Commerce Clause issues. The HCPTC of course in typical corrupt government fashion filed a ludicrous Motion to Dismiss which was promptly answered in at times, a mannerism mocking the ignorance of this agency including a heading that the HCPTC thinks the consumers are "IDIOTS". (I helped pen both the Complaint & the Response)

We just received through a public records request, the e-mails of Interim Executive Director Cesar Padilla & contained in these messages is the following from James Yacavone the Attorney for the HCPTC dated 21 Nov 2007:

"Attached is Leib's response to our motion to dismiss. I suggest you read it since it reveals the core of his arguments in this case. I have a concern that it will be difficult to prevail in this case and would like to explore with you whether thre is anyway that the PTC can amend its rules to allow Leib's "limo".

No, Leib has not received any offer to settle despite the HCPTC'S own attorney having reservations about prevailing in this case. This is how government works when the citizens have a legit issue. They enact laws that forces the ordinary citizens to lay out big bucks to petition the actions of the corrupt politicos, then gov attempts to deny the citizens rights for redress & then, even if they know they're wrong, they will drag the living shit out of the case in hopes of the citizen folding, going broke, drops dead etc.. In Leib's case, as with the one who just filed (I wrote that one too) & myself, heels are dug in for what we have before the courts & more is on the way.

Welcome to the farking USA!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: gunny,

And here we go again -'
http://www.tampabay.com/news/localgovernment/article762601.ece

Moshe Leib

quote:

Originally posted by gunny:
HCPTC Chairman Hillsborough County Commissioner Kevin White is making headlines again:

The Con Man & The Commissioner

HCPTC Chairman Hillsborough County Commissioner Kevin White is making headlines again:

The Con Man & The Commissioner

Yes Gunny, I see your opinion of what I said, and I see your point, but let's face it, the one's who organize the flocking are getting paid too...yeah, back to your corruption. Well aware of it around here that even the fed's have a hard time prosecuting because there's too much to keep up with, understaffed. AND let's agree that the citizen's today are too busy locked in their world's/fantasies to give a crap about laws that are made. When all it takes is a minute on let's say a website just for petition's, such as www.thepetitionsite.com Hell, look at when the house and senate meet now, not many are showing up, and when they do, there caught napping, sleeping away while in session. I believe that citizen's make too many excuse's about not having time to participate in political affair's. Oh, yeah, exception, when this country has a presidential race, then MOST (not all, not you Gunny...lol) citizen's call themselves republican or democrate, what a joke, it remind's me of religion and christmas, but I am not even going to go there, not here.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Mr.Frugality,

quote:

Originally posted by Mr.Frugality:
There is nothing FREE in Free-Enterpise... And if you have kid's, when you tell them they can be anything they want when they grow-up, don't forget to mention all the restriction's our lawmaker's dictate to us on what they want to be.

I firmly believe the correct way to present this is , "the restrictions WE allow our lawmakers to dictate to us". Governments or organizations don't do shit without the willing obedience of the flock. As with the Tampa limo Gestapo whose demise will be from the direct actions of a half dozen willing to place this corrupt orgnanization before the courts to defend their actions, freedom and justice has always been a result of the few.

There is nothing FREE in Free-Enterpise... And if you have kid's, when you tell them they can be anything they want when they grow-up, don't forget to mention all the restriction's our lawmaker's dictate to us on what they want to be. If your going to do that, you can't do this... I understand why law's are made, but lately I think the young lawmaker's in this country are just messing with our industry because were an easy target to use in their portfollio for work experience (PR) to get re-elected. I really think the majority of lawmaker's don't personally care about the issues their signing for/against... Example: a cop, they don't do anything until they get an assignment, it's not like they are looking for their next assignment, they wait for one to be given to them. Ok, one exception, the cop's shown on the tv show cops. Put a camera in front of a cop, cop look's for an assignment on street's, take camera away, cop wait's for assignment from MIT (computer) or dispatcher. Same with lawmaker's. Gotta keep the lawmaker's busy, otherwise what would they do....

Rumor - Tampa franchise of a National Shuttle Chain is a little nervous.

Why?

Could it be that a motor carrier arrested by the Gestapo has let that cat out about some dirty little secret like:
The 15pax he utilizes is regulated by Florida DOT & such regulation has been confirmed by DOT General Counsel.
The Gestapo & its regulatory comes from a special law.
Florida Constitution prohibits special laws that regulate occupations regulated by state agencies.
FDOT is a state agency.
Criminal Court is not drag on forever Civil Court & the Gestapo are not happy campers right now.
Nor are those who rely on the Gestapo for economic protection.

While my ultimate goal is Florida State regulation of the ground transportation industry (excluding taxicabs), I don't feel that the motor carrier operators have the guts, intelligence nor fortitude to band together no less reach into their pockets to pay off politicos.

With the only restrictions placed on me being in Tampa & I'm good-to-go in my other spheres of operation, I personally have decided to switch the tactics & fight certain regulatory aspects as it pertains strictly to my own unique business operations whereas a win will not affect the Industry as a whole. As a matter of fact, yesterday we received the thumbs up from Federal Judge Whittemore to amend my federal complaint & this is the position my legal team & I will take with the amended complaint. And yes, the PTC was not too happy about this decision.

The do nothings will get exactly what they work for.

The repetitive limo licensing in Florida has to stop! Taxicabs are local. We are the intercounty transportation services people rely on. We have to band together and make demands for state regulation to end this abuse once and for all.

I see many more of our brethren owner-operators are logging into this forum and seeing what is going on in Tampa Bay. My associate has invited me to comment in this forum in the hopes that others in the three large Florida markets will see the wisdom of what we propose.
At this time, if we are operating a legitimate limousine service to the public, we are legally registerd in whatever capacity as a business in Florida, we should enjoy the unrestricted access to any part or area of the state without undue restriction, taxation or repetitive registration to operate in a specific county or municipality. Unlike taxicabs, we are a pre-chartered transportation service. We don't "curb" at the airports or cruise ports hawking for business. We are the step above that type of transportation and it's important to remember and convey that point and position everyday to everyone. In an uncertain economic period, the last thing our industry needs is for additional jurisdictions to hop on the "Permit Bandwagon" and demand their cut in what is an already dwindling net profit margin for many of us. If we as an industry in this state do nothing, in a very short period of time, your rear windows and mine will be so full of stickers we won't be able to see through them, and then that of course brings up another motor vehicle violation. It is time for us to stand and unite in a common purpose to lobby our state legislature to assume control, application and oversight for our industry, thereby eliminating individual municipalities from sticking their hands in our corporate pockets and forcing us either out of business or, making it necessary to increase rates to such a degree that our service is then pushed out of the range for the average citizen. My, friends, this isn't rocket science, and this isn't a new age scheme. It's good old fashion common sense and it DOES benefit us and the public to establish uniform regulations and guidelines statewide. It has the potential to save us money overall and assist our state by increasing incoming revenue.
Gunny knows what needs to be done. It takes only our will and our wallets to help make it a reality. To leave it as it is will only hurt our industry further. WE MUST TO MORE AND DO IT BETTER THAN BEFORE!

Gunny - same here in NYC with NCTLC. Corruption at its best.

The New Orleans Taxicab Bureau used to do the same thing. They wore fatigues with combat boots and guns. They were famous for shaking down the limo operators.

And the gun toting Gestapo hits the news again:

Tampa's Gun Toting Limo Inspectors

quote:

Originally posted by Wade Randolph:
I wonder what other kind of favors and or kickbacks changed hands between the Tampa regulators and Carey International?

Don't know what kind of payola was involved but one thing is obvious, Carey of Tampa Bay & others had a shit load of drivers without PVDL'S or Fl Driver's Licenses operating vehicles that they obtained permits for. In this neck of the woods we call that a criminal offense or, at least, the State Law does.

I wonder what other kind of favors and or kickbacks changed hands between the Tampa regulators and Carey International?

More corruption exposed:
Under State Law, Driver's of limousines in Tampa (Hillsborough County) must have a public vehicle driver's license (PVDL) (1 of the 3 arrest counts), a Florida Drivers license, the PTC must under law run a background investigation of drivers.

During the time frame of Nov 2000 through Feb 2001 the HCPTC issued 18 PVDL's to the 4 larger Tampa area Limousine Companies; Julie's, Paradise, AllStar & of course, LimoSouth dba Carey Tampa Bay who had a whopping 3 PVDL'S issued.

HCPTC receipts show that 870 $50. temporary permits were issued for the Super Bowl.

That's 870 vehicles, 18 drivers. Don't cry about Gypsy's in Tampa when the regulatory agency blatantly violates State Law.

If anyone should be arrested, it should be former Director Greg Cox who violated the State mandate to enforce the law & placed the public at risk & not the small operator loading his/her passenger at TIA for a direct intercounty transfer. These officially recorded facts brings up a whole 14th Amendment issue when the Gestapo slaps the cuffs on someone.

If you are criminally charged by the HCPTC, contact me for copies of these official documents.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: gunny,