PALM BEACH, Fla. - The Palm Beach town council refused to issue limousine permits to Dav El Chauffeured Transportation Network by a 4-1 vote, according to the Palm Beach Post.

The Chelsea, Mass.-based Dav El, which would operate under the name Black Tie Limousine locally, requested the permits in order to park their vehicles at the Four Seasons hotel. In May, Dav El went to the council requesting 27 permits, but narrowed that request to five.

Palm Beach only allows 50 permits for the limousine industry.

Councilman Allen Wyett said the request was denied in part because the cap on limousines in Palm Beach has not resulted in a shortage of vehicles for consumers. "We've had 50 limousine licenses for many years and have yet to have someone say they can't get a limousine," Wyett told the Palm Beach Post.

Limousine operators with Palm Beach permits are concerned that allowing more permits will diminish the market. Rob Hamman, owner of Carey Limousine holds 14 permits and says that increasing the number of permits allowed "will have every limousine service applying for permits thinking Palm Beach is goldmine," he told the paper.

However, Dav El's attorney, Sloane Newburgh, said the cap on permits available created a "classic anti-competitive situation" in the area.