By John Tredrea, Special Writer
LAMBERTVILLE — In November 2011, a new state law, which made changes to taxicab laws, was approved.
Revisions permit a municipality to auction licenses, “but more importantly, changed the insurance requirements and required all drivers to have a criminal history record background check,” according to City Clerk Cindy Ege. The check includes fingerprinting.
The permitted auction was held at City Hall on May 16.
Just one company participated in the auction and that company was awarded the right to license up to four vehicles at a fee of $500 per vehicle.
Prior to the May auction, the city provided information to all past cab licensees.
Lambertville Taxi was the only company to participate in the auction and now has the first taxicab license issued under the new law.
The company, owned by Lambertville resident Fernando Cruz-Perez, was awarded the right to license up to four vehicles, at $500 per vehicle. Mr. Cruz-Perez currently has one operational taxi.
Under city law, only licensed taxicabs can pick up passengers in Lambertville. Mr. Cruz-Perez can be reached at 215-662-6997, city officials said.
However, taxicabs (other than those licensed by the city) can drop off passengers in the city, according to the law.
Lambertville’s next auction for taxicab licenses will be held in the fall of 2013 for the 2014 license year, said Clerk Ege.
Under a city ordinance adopted in February, no taxicab will be given a license until the cab has been inspected and pronounced thoroughly safe by the city’s police department.
Cabs must be “clean, fit, of good appearance and well-painted and varnished,” the ordinance states.
The police department has the right to inspect any taxi at any time, the ordinance says. Side curtains or shades are prohibited in taxicabs

