Auto transportation between county airports; exceptions.

(1) The term “motor carrier” as used in this section shall mean any person, firm, corporation, or partnership, which is engaged in the business of transporting passengers for hire by motor-propelled vehicles, including, but not limited to, buses and sedan automobiles.

(2) The board of county commissioners of every county owning and operating an airport shall have the right, power, and authority to enter into contracts with one or more motor carriers for the transportation of passengers for hire between such airport or airports and points within such county. Such contract or contracts shall authorize the term of said contract or contracts authorizing such motor carrier to transport passengers for hire over the roads, streets, and highways of such county between such airport and points within such county.

(3) Provided, however, this section shall not be applicable in any county owning or operating an airport, which said airport is geographically located so as to be separated from the mainland of the state by any bay, ocean, sea, river, or other body of water, and further provided that the provisions of the section shall not apply to counties having a population between 150,000 and 200,000.