Limousine companies are blaming the state of Georgia for leaving them 300 to 400 vehicles short of whatB次元官网网址檚 needed to transport NFL owners, corporate clients and Very Important People this Super Bowl weekend.
Amy Patterson, vice-president of operations and logistics with AtlantaB次元官网网址檚 Super Bowl Host Committee, said in a letter to GeorgiaB次元官网网址檚 public safety commissioner that she fears this will become a B次元官网网址渧iral news storyB次元官网网址� and B次元官网网址渁 black eye for the state.B次元官网网址�
READ MORE:
State law bars out-of-state limousines that arenB次元官网网址檛 insured and registered in Georgia. Limousine firms say they should get an exemption for special events such as the Super Bowl. The stateB次元官网网址檚 public safety chief says he wonB次元官网网址檛 allow it.
The concerns were first reported by AtlantaB次元官网网址檚 Fox affiliate, WAGA-TV.
B次元官网网址淲e are begging Gov. Kemp to step in and protect the people of Atlanta, the people of Georgia, the people coming in from out of town to allow us to safely handle their transportation,B次元官网网址� said Jeff Greene, president of the Greater Atlanta Limousine Association. Greene calls the situation B次元官网网址渆xtremely, extremely urgent.B次元官网网址�
Kemp said heB次元官网网址檚 leaving it up to GeorgiaB次元官网网址檚 Department of Public Safety commissioner, Col. Mark McDonough, and the colonel says he wonB次元官网网址檛 bend.
READ MORE:
McDonough said the law is needed for public safety, noting that chauffeured vehicles have been involved in deadly accidents.
B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檙e basically asking the colonel of state patrol to set aside state law. ThatB次元官网网址檚 kind of brash,B次元官网网址� McDonough told WAGA-TV . B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 not something IB次元官网网址檓 going to give permission to do.B次元官网网址�
Greene said limousine firms were allowed to use out-of-state vehicles to handle the crush of VIPs during the 1996 Olympic Games and the 2000 Super Bowl in Atlanta. But McDonough said he canB次元官网网址檛 find written proof that was allowed to happen.
The situation is between the limousine companies and the state, a representative of the Super Bowl Host Committee said in a Friday email to The Associated Press.
In a separate email to the AP, Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau spokesman Heather Kirksey said B次元官网网址渨e arenB次元官网网址檛 aware of a transportation shortage.B次元官网网址�
But limousine company owner Fred Rich said B次元官网网址渨eB次元官网网址檙e going to have to break major contracts.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e going to have to tell major, major corporate clients we canB次元官网网址檛 handle their VIP travellers,B次元官网网址� Rich said.
Authorities have been urging everyone else to use public transportation.
The Associated Press
Like us on and follow us on .
