Luther E. Allen Jr., an inspector for the commission, said age alone can not determine a taxi's condition.

"I have seen some very good cars beyond the vintage that this requires," Allen said.

Dalimonte said safety, not aesthetics, should be the focus in taxi inspections.

"The new regulation places more emphasis on aesthetics than safety by arbitrarily prohibiting all taxicabs more than nine years old," he said. "Age has no effect on the cleanliness of a cab."

But Mary Williams, who owns six cabs affiliated with Ambassador Brattle Taxi, said poorly maintained cars often pass inspection.

"I don't know how your people are inspecting these cabs when half of them should be burned," Williams said. "Look at all the cars in Cambridge that should be condemned: they're a disgrace to the city of Cambridge."

Williams added that she does not support the proposed meter change because the new meters, in addition to being expensive, have broken down frequently.

Cambridge police officer Leon Lashley said current receipts are illegible and suggested that new standardized receipts be created.

"I realize that new meters have been known to break down, but I can't read the cab number, driver's name, or time on many current receipts," Lashley said. "I believe we should go with a standard receipt with the number of the cab and the driver."

Other Business

In other business, the commission also discussed proposed changes in the code governing limousine operators.

Changes include a new price structure, stricter parking and overcrowding regulations at area hotels and a requirement that limousines with fare structures similar to taxicabs have taxi licenses.

Rodriguez said the changes are necessary to protect the interests of Cambridge's taxi industry.

"If a limo sitting in front of Mass. Ave. picks up five or six people and drives them a short distance for a fee, it looks like [the driver] is doing hackney [taxi] business," Rodriguez said. "Liveries can not do hackney, and we will enforce this."

But Lawrence A. Willwerth, president of Somerville-based Carey Limousine, said the proposed changes discriminate against limousine operators.

"Most people choose us because they want us," Willwerth said. "Under these rules it will prevent my cars from operating in Cambridge."

James J. Rafferty, a Cambridge-based attorney representing Boston Coach, said the proposed changes are also illegal.

"These are private carriers, and they have regulations that govern their conduct," Rafferty said. "There was already an attempt that was rejected in 1989 to regulate non-Cambridge-based livery operators."