HIGHTSTOWN: Panel suggests limits, regulations for taxi companies

By Sean Ruppert, Staff Writer
   HIGHTSTOWN — A committee formed to investigate the borough’s taxi regulations has proposed changes that would, among other things, allow a maximum of three cab companies to be headquartered in the borough, the same number that apparently exist.
   The proposed changes would limit each company to three cars and increase the regulations on how they are operated.
   Committee member Esther Velazquez, who announced her GOP candidacy for Borough Council this week, presented the suggestions of the committee to the Borough Council on Monday. The other committee members include Mayor Bob Patten, who sets the council agenda, Councilman Mike Theokas and Police Chief James Eufemia.
   Ms. Velazquez said the suggestions were not meant to be the final word on taxi regulation.
   ”This just is a starting point,” she said.
   Other suggested regulations include:
   • selecting a new company to receive a license to operate through a lottery if one of the three leaves town;
   • requiring all cabs to have a GPS unit or street map;
   • requiring companies to keep a written record of every trip and hold them for at least one year;
   • prohibiting drivers from smoking tobacco in the cab;
   • prohibiting drivers convicted of driving while intoxicated to be licensed within two years of the offense; and
   • prohibiting drivers from not picking up passengers based on their race, sex, religion or ethnicity.
   The issue of how many cabs come into town has produced complaints from some residents for years. In January 2007, the Borough Council changed regulations to prevent companies from being operated in residential areas after residents complained that taxis were clogging up the streets in their neighborhoods.
   Mega Taxi and United Taxi — the only companies in town at the time — were forced to move from their locations on Maxwell and Manlove avenues. Both companies remain in town at different locations.
   Mr. Theokas said Monday that while it is a complicated issue, he thought the proposed regulations are comprehensive.
   ”With this ordinance, I think we would have firm control,” he said.
   Councilwoman Isabel McGinty, however, questioned how effective Hightstown could be at regulating taxis on its own.
   ”We have to be working with our surrounding communities,” she said.
   She and Councilman Jeff Bond both also questioned if the lottery system is the best way to award licenses to new companies.
   Ms. McGinty suggested that the town’s Economic Development Committee be consulted to determine the best course of action.