A Mackinac Island ferry company is defending its role in Vice President Mike Pence's use of an eight-vehicle motorcade Saturday at a Grand Hotel event.

Shepler's Ferry said vehicles are on the island all the time, pointing out that media use them during the Mackinac Policy Conference held annually after Memorial Day.

After the response, things escalated pretty quickly on Sunday.

Folks suggested Shepler's was taking a political stance with the tweet.

"We assisted the US Secret Service and it was a proud moment for our freight crew," the company said.

But the criticism continued. And the company continued to respond — for what appeared to be every tweet.

"So much anger today on the Twitter all over a freight run. Geeeez. We're just a family boat company, doing our thing. Being friendly, on time, safe and all that. 😥," the company said in another tweet.

Mackinac Island city ordinances call for special city permits to be obtained before bringing vehicles to the island, but Mayor Margeret Doud has not responded to phone calls and emails and her assistant, Tammy Frazier, would not say Monday whether the mayor or the city council had any role in approving the Pence motorcade.

“I do not have authorization to discuss that,” Frazier said.

There are exceptions to the island's motorized vehicle ban, including snowmobiles, snowplows and emergency vehicles.

Mackinac Island Police Chief Lawrence Horn will not be commenting, said the woman who answered the telephone at the police station Monday.

Darin Miller, a spokesman for Pence, declined comment. He referred questions to the U.S. Secret Service.

A Secret Service spokeswoman did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment.

The U.S. Secret Service had an automobile smuggled onto the island when President Gerald Ford visited in 1975 — but the car was kept hidden and was never used, says a former longtime Mackinac Island official.

Some folks showed Shepler's some love.

Former Lt. Gov. Brian Calley came to their defense.

And, finally, if you think Shepler's is taking sides, there's this tweet.

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Contact Amy Huschka: ahuschka@freepress.com or follow her on Twitter (@aetmanshuschka). Staff writer Paul Egan contributed to this report.

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