Taxicab Advocate Lobbies Crest Officials

WILDWOOD CREST — A taxi driver walked into Borough Hall Wednesday, April 14 and asked the governing body some questions.
Barry Felice, owner of AA Plus Cab Co., of North Cape May, didn’t pull a Travis Bickle and query, “You talking to me?”
Instead he asked if Commissioners would consider changing their taxicab regulations to make it easier for the industry to operate in the Crest.
Felice told commissioners that the borough had too few taxi licenses (eight) and a cab ordinance that was out of date (circa 1970). Neighboring communities of Wildwood and North Wildwood have 21 and 24 licenses respectively.
Residents and visitors who go to bars and clubs in those neighboring communities (since the Crest is a dry town) should have a safe way to get home, Felice said. He said keeping more drunk drivers off the road would help keep Crest residents safer.
He also told the Herald that the county Fare Free Transportation and N.J. Transit systems serviced this area poorly and face budgetary problems. He said taxicabs might be able to step in and help with those needs if regulations were streamlined.
Felice said that he could pick up a fare in North Wildwood and drop off the customer in Wildwood Crest, but have to tell the customer that they couldn’t pick them up for the ride back.
“It’s not very convenient for the customer and not very professional for the cab driver,” Felice said.
Borough Clerk Kevin Yecco admitted the ordinance was dated, but in defense of the governing body he noted that in 40 years no one had ever requested a change. Mayor Carl Groon said the governing body would discuss his requests, but wanted Felice to realize that even if they agreed to change the taxi regulations, it could take months before the changes were implemented, likely not in time for the upcoming summer season.
Felice thanked the commissioners for their time and consideration.
Felice, whose five-year-old cab company consists of one cab (his) and one driver (himself), has made revamping the taxicab licensing system in this county his mission. He’s been to dozens of public meetings and spoken to leaders in every municipality in the county. He’s also spoken to county freeholders and First District legislators seeking changes.
“Most everyone has been very receptive to my requests,” Felice said, but he has faced challenges.
In the current system of municipal licensing, Felice said that only 11 of the 16 towns in the county even have a taxi ordinance and none of the systems of regulations are the same.
He said cabbies are forced to pay licensing fees in multiple towns, get State Police and FBI background checks in multiple towns and have their cabs inspected by multiple towns.
“What Cape May County really needs a county-run, county-wide, business-friendly tourist-friendly taxi system,” Felice told the Herald. “One set of rules, everybody on the same page.”
Felice, however, realizes that change is a long-term goal because systematic changes would have to be made at the state level, so for now he continues to go from town to town requesting that officials update and streamline their municipal taxicab regulations.
He feels like things are starting to move.
He was recently able to get Wildwood to initiate a “use-it-or-lose-it” measure that forces cab companies to have their taxis on the street during the tourist season. Felice said that larger companies were hoarding the licenses to reduce competition, and only putting the cabs in service on the busy holiday weekends.
“People are coming to Wildwood from Lower Township and Middle Township because of the nightlife, but once they get here I can’t get them home,” Felice told Wildwood officials last October. “I give them the numbers for the cabs that are licensed here, but often those companies don’t have enough cabs, and don’t want to drive off the island.”
Felice told the Herald he plans to continue his quest to change the taxicab regulations in this county one town at a time to make it fair and profitable for himself and the industry as a whole.
“I’m going to keep kicking this can down the road,” he said.