Photo: Tribune News Service
The Town of Palm Beach wants to know if the U.S. Secret Service has the authority to shut down the roadways outside Mar-a-Lago even when former President Trump is not at his Palm Beach home.
The town's attorney sent a letter to the federal agency, asking for proof that it has the right to close a stretch of South Ocean Boulevard.
The Secret Service last month announced that the road would be closed between Woodbridge Road and Southern Boulevard until at least the November election. That announcement came less than a week after the Trump assassination attempt.
During a meeting of town leaders and public works officials, the town's attorney noted concerns and revealed she sent the letter to the Secret Service two weeks ago and is still awaiting a response.
Palm Beach Police officials say they've developed a plan to help drivers navigate the closure more efficiently, noting that the construction across the intracoastal into West Palm Beach makes finding shorter routes difficult.
The agency says the Sheriff's Office is helping as much as possible and the county has tried to better sync traffic lights.