§ 342-2 Types of licenses.
§ 342-3 Taxicab owner's license required; insurance; records.
§ 342-4 Suspension and revocation of license.
§ 342-6 Refusal to carry orderly passengers prohibited.
§ 342-8 Limousine owner's license.
§ 342-9 Limousine violations and penalties.
Taxi stands — See Ch. 10.
Editor's Note: This ordinance also superseded former Ch. 342, Taxicabs and Limousines, comprised of Art. I, Taxicabs, adopted by Ord. No. 1308 as Ch. 5.48 of the 1998 Code, as amended, and Art. II, Limousine Services, adopted by Ord. No. 1308 as Ch. 5.40 of the 1998 Code, as amended.
Any automobile, taxicab or other vehicle propelled by motor power engaged in the business of transportation of passengers for hire or pay within the Township, whether operated from stands in the street or only on telephone calls to garages or in any other manner. It is the intention of this chapter to include in the definition of "taxicabs" any motor-driven vehicle, other than stages, omnibuses, and vehicles commonly called "jitneys," which carries passengers for hire or pay for which public patronage is solicited and the owner of which holds himself out as a carrier of passengers.
Pursuant to N.J.S.A. 48:16-17, a limousine business whose principal place of business is within the Township shall obtain a limousine vehicle license for each limousine operated.
It shall be unlawful for any person to engage in the taxicab business, utilizing the Township as a principal place of business, without first having obtained a license therefor as hereinafter provided.
No taxicab owner's license shall be issued for any vehicle required to be licensed until the owner files an application for a taxicab owner's license, setting forth the character of the vehicle proposed to be licensed, the correct name of the owner thereof, the residence or address of the principal office of such owner, a complete schedule of the fares proposed to be charged, and such other facts as the Township Committee may require. The application for a taxicab owner's license shall also set forth the name, address and age of each driver who will be employed by the owner to drive taxis within the Township, as well as a certification by the applicant as to each such driver that the driver is at least 20 years of age, has had at least one year of driving experience, is of good moral character, has no criminal record and is physically able to operate a taxicab. The applicant shall have an ongoing responsibility to update the list of drivers with additions and deletions as they occur.
The applicant shall further certify that any driver who is convicted of a crime or of being a disorderly person in this or any other jurisdiction shall immediately be prevented from operating any of the applicant's taxicabs within the Township.
The application for license shall be made to the Township Clerk on forms provided. Upon receipt of the license application properly completed, the Township Clerk shall forward the application and other necessary documents to the Township Committee which shall review the application for the purpose of determining whether or not the applicant has complied with all of the requirements and conditions of this chapter. Should the Township Committee find that there has been compliance with the terms of this chapter, it shall be in the form of a resolution ordering the issuance of a license by the Township Clerk.
All applications for licenses shall be accompanied by the required fee and shall be made to or through the Township Clerk upon forms provided. All application fees shall be nonrefundable, except that when the Township Clerk shall deny the applicant a license or permit, the applicant shall be refunded 50% of his or her application fee. The nonrefundability of all application fees shall be stated on all application forms. Applications may contain information deemed necessary or specifically called for by ordinance.
Approval of application. The Township Clerk shall not issue any taxicab owner's license until the application therefor is approved by the Township Committee and the conditions precedent to the issuance of the license as set out in this chapter are complied with. Where a taxicab owner's license has previously been issued, the approval of the Township Committee shall not be required as a condition for issuance of additional vehicle licenses.
License fee. The annual fee for a taxicab owner's license shall be as provided in Chapter 169.
Transfer of owner's license. Taxicab owner's licenses may be transferred from one vehicle to another belonging to the same owner only after an application, in writing, has been submitted and approval has been granted by the Township Clerk and payment has been made to the Township Clerk of a transfer fee as provided for in Chapter 169. All applications for transfer shall be made on forms to be furnished by the Township and shall be accompanied by the transfer fee.
No taxicab owner's license shall be issued for any vehicle required to be licensed until there is submitted to the Township Attorney, and approved by him as to both form and sufficiency, and filed with the Township Clerk at the time application for a license is made, an insurance policy, with the premium prepaid thereon, issued by an insurance company duly licensed to transact business under the laws of the State of New Jersey, with a policy limit of not less than $1,500,000 against loss imposed by law, including but not limited to judgment or settlement, upon such owner for damages on account of bodily injury, including death, or property damage suffered by one or more persons arising from or caused by any one accident, including an act or omission, occurring by reason of the ownership, maintenance or use of the vehicle so licensed within the Township. A combined single limit policy in the amount required by this section shall satisfy this section. The operator of each taxicab shall be covered by the insurance requirements herein referred to.
Maintenance of records. The owner-licensee shall keep and maintain records of all trips for a period of at least six months, which records shall at all times be subject to inspection and audit by the Township Committee.
Additional rules and regulations. The Township Committee may, by resolution, make such rules and regulations in relation to the operation of taxicabs and the conduct of the operators thereof as it may determine to be necessary and proper in the best interests of the Township. A certified copy of any such resolution shall be forwarded to all licensees within 10 days following adoption.
Upon request of the licensee and recommendation of the Chief of Police, the Township Committee may, by resolution, designate the place or places where licensed vehicles may be permitted to stand.
A copy of the limousine business's articles of incorporation, certificate of formation, or other corporate formation document registered with the State of New Jersey, and a copy of the business's corpcode document issued by the New Jersey Division of Motor Vehicle Commission (NJMVC).
A complete list of each and every employee of the limousine business, including the name, home address, telephone number, and date of birth. Every driver employed by the limousine business shall also include his or her New Jersey driver's license number and expiration date.
Approval of application. The Township Committee shall not issue any limousine business license until the applicant has demonstrated satisfactory compliance with the provisions of N.J.S.A. 48:16-13 to N.J.S.A. 48:16-22.7, and with the conditions precedent to issuance of the license set forth in this chapter.
Application for initial limousine vehicle license.
The name, business address, and license number of the Township-licensed limousine business seeking to license the limousine vehicle.
Current documentation required. Applications for limousine business license renewals shall include current copies of all documents which expired, or are due to expire, during the term of the license being renewed, including, but not limited to, drivers licenses, registration documents, insurance documents, sales tax certificates, and business registration certificates.
Final approval. Final approval of limousine business license renewals shall be by Resolution of the Township Committee. Renewal of corresponding limousine vehicle licenses shall not require Township Committee approval so long as the renewal application complies with the provisions of this chapter.
Fees required and nonrefundable. Applications for limousine business licenses and limousine vehicle licenses shall be made to the Township Clerk on forms provided. All applications shall be accompanied by the required fee. All application fees shall be nonrefundable and the nonrefundability of application fees shall be stated on all application forms. Applications shall contain information deemed necessary or specifically called for by ordinance. Final approval of all applications shall be by resolution of the Township Committee.
Limousine vehicle licenses under a previously issued limousine business license. Provided that all other requirements of this chapter are met, where a limousine business license has previously been issued, the approval of the Township Committee shall not be required as a condition for issuance of limousine vehicle licenses under that limousine business license.
License fee. The annual fee for a limousine owner's license shall be as provided for in Chapter 169.
No limousine business license or limousine vehicle license shall be issued until there is submitted to the Township Attorney, and approved by him as to both form and sufficiency, and filed with the Township Clerk at the time application for a license is made, an insurance policy, with the premium prepaid thereon, issued by an insurance company duly licensed to transact business under the laws of the State of New Jersey, with a policy limit of not less than $1,500,000 against loss imposed by law, including but not limited to judgment or settlement, upon such owner for damages on account of bodily injury, including death, or property damage suffered by one or more persons arising from or caused by any one accident, including an act or omission, occurring by reason of the ownership, maintenance or use of the vehicle so licensed within the Township. A combined single limit policy in the amount required by this section shall satisfy this section. The operator of each limousine shall be covered by the insurance requirements herein referred to.
Transfer of limousine vehicle license. Limousine vehicle licenses may be transferred from one vehicle to another belonging to the same limousine business license holder only after an application, in writing, has been submitted to the Township Clerk, on forms provided, along with a transfer fee as provided for in Chapter 169. Limousine vehicle license transfer applications must be accompanied by proof that the license plates of the prior limousine were surrendered to the appropriate motor vehicle agency, and shall be accompanied by proof of insurance for the limousine vehicles to which limousine vehicle licenses are transferred. All limousine vehicles to which limousine vehicle licenses are transferred shall be inspected by the Township Police Department to verify that the limousine vehicle is in operational condition and complies with the requirements of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Law. Approval of the Township Committee shall not be required as a condition for the transfer of limousine vehicle licenses under this section.
Additional rules and regulations. In addition to the rules and regulations set forth herein, the State of New Jersey and the Motor Vehicle Commission have further statutes, rules and regulations with regard to the operation of limousines and the conduct and licensing of operators thereof. The Township Committee may, by resolution, make such rules and regulations in relation to the operation of limousines and the conduct of operators thereof as they may determine to be necessary and proper in the best interests of the Township. A certified copy of any such resolution shall be forwarded to all licensees within 10 days following adoption.