[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Council of the Township of West Milford 3-26-2008 by Ord. No. 2008-010.[1] Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Fees and costs — See Ch. 135.
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance also repealed former Ch. 353, Taxicabs, adopted as Ch. 9 of the 1976 Revised General Ordinances, as amended.
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meaning indicated:
DRIVER
Any person who drives a taxicab within this Township.
OPERATION
Of a taxicab, shall consist of transporting in such taxicab at least one but not more than nine persons, exclusive of the driver, for hire on any of the streets in this Township; accepting a passenger to be transported for hire within this Township or from a point within the Township to a point outside of the Township limits. The operation of a taxicab as above described by one other than the owner shall be deemed operation by the owner thereof as well as by the person actually driving the same. The transportation of any person other than the owner or driver in a taxicab as hereinafter defined shall be prima facie evidence of operation.
OWNER
Any person in whose name title to any taxicab is registered with the New Jersey Division of Motor Vehicles or who appears in such record to be the conditional vendee or licensee thereof.
SENIOR CITIZEN
Any person 62 years of age or older.
STREET
Includes any street, avenue, park, parkway, local, county, state or federal highway or other public roadway located within the Township, whether or not the same is an improved road.
TAXICAB
Any automobile or motor car capable of carrying up to nine passengers, exclusive of the driver, and which may commonly be referred to as a "taxi," "cab," "van" or "hack," duly licensed by the Township and engaged in the business of carrying passengers for hire, which is held out, announced or advertised to operate or run or which is operated and run over any of the streets within the Township of West Milford and which accepts passengers for transportation from points and places within the Township to points and places within or without the same Township; provided, however, that nothing herein contained shall include autobuses or buses or designated routes, public deliveries or jitneys or such public conveyances as are by law exclusively subject to state and/or federal regulation.
TOWNSHIP
The Township of West Milford, Passaic County, New Jersey.
No person shall operate a taxicab or engage in the taxicab business within the Township without first obtaining a license from the Township Council. The license shall expire December 31 of the year in which it was issued, unless sooner suspended or revoked by the Township Council.
A. 
Driver's license. The holder of a taxicab driver's license shall be entitled to operate within the Township any taxicab whose owner has been licensed under this chapter.
B. 
Owner's license. The holder of a taxicab owner's license shall be entitled to operate a taxicab owned by him within the Township, provided that the person driving the cab holds a valid taxicab driver's license.
A. 
Application information. Applications for licenses shall be made by the owner, lessee or bailee of the vehicle in writing to the Township Administrator and shall be sworn to and filed with the Township Clerk. The application shall state:
(1) 
The name and address of the owner, lessee or bailee of the vehicle.
(2) 
The name and address of the applicant.
(3) 
The physical location of the vehicle(s).
(4) 
Type of vehicle and date of last inspection.
(5) 
Length of time the vehicle has been in use.
(6) 
The number of persons the vehicle is capable of carrying.
(7) 
The motor power, make and value of the vehicle.
(8) 
Proof of insurance in conformance with the requirements of § 353-4B.
B. 
Insurance.
(1) 
Each application for a taxicab owner's license shall be accompanied by a policy of insurance naming the Township of West Milford as an additional insured, with the premium prepaid thereon, written by an insurance company duly licensed to transact business under the insurance laws of the State of New Jersey, which shall be submitted to the Township Clerk and to the Township Attorney for approval as to form and sufficiency. A certificate of insurance must be submitted to the Township Clerk prior to a license being approved.
(2) 
Such policy shall be conditioned for payment of a sum required to satisfy all claims for damage by reason of bodily injury to or the death of all persons or property damage as follows: up to a six-passenger vehicle: not less than $500,000 combined single limit.
(3) 
Such policy shall provide coverage for every driver of each vehicle listed in the policy, and the acceptance of said policy by the Township of West Milford and the issuance of the license by the Township shall constitute an agreement by and between the applicant and the Township that applicant holds and saves harmless the Township from any and all claims from damages arising out of personal injury and/or property damage made by third parties as the result of the issuance of said license and the operation of a taxicab. In the event that such policy is canceled for any reason, a notice of such action must be delivered to the West Milford Township Clerk 20 days prior to the effective date of cancellation by the insurance company providing coverage to the taxi operator.
C. 
License fee. A separate license application shall be filed and a separate license fee shall be paid for each vehicle. The annual license fee per vehicle is set forth in Chapter 135, Fees and Costs.
D. 
Issuance of license; contents; display.
(1) 
Taxicab owner's licenses shall be granted by the Township Council, and a license certificate shall be issued by the Clerk. The certificate shall contain:
(a) 
The name of the applicant.
(b) 
The official state license plate number of the taxicab.
(c) 
The applicant's place of business or taxi stand.
(d) 
A statement that in case of any complaint the Chief of Police shall be notified.
(2) 
The certificate shall be affixed to a conspicuous part of the interior of the taxicab and shall be open to the view of all passengers.
E. 
Limitation on number of licenses issued. The number of taxicab owner's licenses outstanding shall be limited to one per 1,200 residents of the Township, as shown by the last preceding federal census. Licenses shall be nontransferable.
A. 
Applications.
(1) 
Applications for a taxicab driver's license shall be made to the Township Administrator. The forms and information required shall be established by the Township Administrator.
(2) 
The application shall be accompanied by the fee set forth in Chapter 135, Fees and Costs, for the initial license period.
B. 
Issuance of license; contents. Upon approval of the application by the Township Administrator, the Clerk shall immediately issue the applicant a taxicab driver's license. The license shall contain a licensee's name and address, physical description, signature and photograph.
C. 
Term of license; fees. An initial license to drive a taxicab shall be valid for the remainder of the calendar year in which it is issued. A taxicab driver's license may be renewed annually, unless it has been revoked or suspended, upon the payment of the fee set forth in Chapter 135, Fees and Costs.
The Township Council shall, from time to time, make rules and regulations for the operation of taxicabs.
The Township Administrator may, after due notice and hearing, suspend or revoke the license of any person who violates any provision of this chapter or who violates any of the rules or regulations adopted by the Township Council pursuant to § 353-6.
A. 
The Township Council or its designee may, in its discretion, refuse to issue or renew or may, after notice and hearing, revoke or suspend any license issued under the provisions of this article if the applicant has been convicted of any crime, disorderly persons offense or petty disorderly in this state or in any other state or territory, or has been convicted of a violation under Title 39, Motor Vehicles and Traffic Regulation of the Revised Statutes of New Jersey, or who violates any provision of this article or has any judgment unsatisfied of record arising out of an automobile accident or who has made false answers in the application for such license or any renewal thereof or who has failed or fails to render reasonably prompt, safe and adequate taxi services or who has not complied fully with the requirements of this article for such class of licensure, or if the licensee or applicant has in any degree contributed to any injury to person or damage to property arising out of negligent operation of a motor vehicle or as to any taxicab owner's license if the motor vehicle licensed or to be licensed by reason of unsafe or unsanitary conditions is dangerous to the safety or health of the occupants, and others, or if the policy of insurance required herein has once lapsed or such coverage is not maintained at all times, or a taxicab, at any time, carries more passengers than the same is authorized to carry by the terms of this article.
B. 
Any taxicab owner's or driver's license which remains unused for a period of at least one year shall automatically revert to the Township and shall be deemed null and void.
C. 
No taxicab owner's license or driver's license shall be issued to, or renewed for, any taxi owner or taxi driver unless and until proof shall have been given to the Township Clerk that the owner and/or driver has adequately provided for the safety of children under the age of five years who are passengers in the taxicab or cabs owned and/or operated by them. In the case of a taxi owner who owns more than one taxi, such proof shall consist of a written policy and posted notice at the base of operation and in all taxicabs owned by him, conspicuous to drivers, setting forth that, prior to the operation of the taxicab, children 18 months of age or younger, who are passengers in a taxicab, shall be placed in a federally approved child restraint seat, and children over the age of 18 months, but under the age of five years, must be placed in a car seat, if riding in the front seat of the taxicab, or in a lap and/or lap and shoulder harness seat belt, if riding in the rear seat of the taxicab. The owner of more than one taxicab must, at all times, keep and maintain in his vehicles or at the base of operation a total number of federally approved car seats equal to 25% of the number of licensed taxicabs owned by him, which shall at all times be available for use by drivers of the cabs owned by said taxicab owner. In the case of an owner of a single taxicab, such proof shall consist of proof that the owner keeps and maintains a federally approved car seat in the passenger compartment or trunk of the licensed vehicle at all times, for use in accordance with this provision.
Every person or persons, firm or corporation found guilty in a municipal court of competent jurisdiction of violating any of the provisions of this article shall be fined not less than $100 nor more than $2,000 and/or imprisoned for a period not to exceed 90 days and/or required to complete community service for not less than five days nor more than 30 days and/or suspension of an owner's and/or driver's license for a period not to exceed 60 days and/or a recommendation of a revocation of an owner's and/or driver's license to the Municipal Council. Each succeeding day of a violation shall be constructed as a new violation.
Nothing in this article shall be construed to exempt any person, firm or corporation owning or operating a taxicab from complying with the laws relating to the ownership, regulation and operation of automobiles in the State of New Jersey.
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
AUTOCABS
A limousine.
DRIVER
Any person who drives a limousine within this Township.
LIMOUSINE
A motor vehicle used in the business of carrying passengers for hire to provide prearranged passenger transportation at a premium fare on a dedicated, nonscheduled, charter basis that is not conducted on a regular route and with a seating capacity in no event of more than 14 passengers, not including the driver, provided that such a vehicle shall not have a seating capacity in excess of four passengers, not including the driver, beyond the maximum passenger seating capacity of the vehicle, not including the driver, at the time of manufacture. Nothing in this definition shall be construed to include taxicabs, hotel buses or buses regulated by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.
LIMOUSINE SERVICE
Includes the business of carrying passengers for hire by limousine.
OWNER
Includes any individual, copartnership, association, corporation or joint-stock company, their lessees, trustees or receivers appointed by any court whatsoever.
STREET
Includes any street, avenue, park, parkway, highway, boulevard or other public place.
TOWNSHIP
The Township of West Milford, Passaic County, New Jersey.
No person shall operate a limousine or engage in the limousine business within the Township without first obtaining a license from the Township Council. The license shall expire December 31 of the year in which it was issued, unless sooner suspended or revoked by the Township Council.
There are hereby established two classes of limousine licenses, to be known as "limousine driver's license" and "limousine owner's license."
A. 
Driver's license. The holder of a limousine driver's license shall be entitled to operate within the Township any limousine whose owner has been licensed under this chapter. There shall be no limit to the number of limousine driver's licenses issued by the Township.
B. 
Owner's license. The holder of a limousine owner's license shall be entitled to operate a limousine owned by him within the Township, provided that the person driving the cab holds a valid taxicab driver's license. There shall be no limit to the number of limousine owner's licenses issued by the Township.
A. 
Application information. Applications for licenses shall be made by the owner, lessee or bailee of the vehicle in writing to the Township Administrator and shall be sworn to and filed with the Township Clerk. The application shall state:
(1) 
The name and address of the owner, lessee or bailee of the vehicle.
(2) 
The name and address of the applicant.
(3) 
The physical location of the vehicle(s).
(4) 
Type of vehicle and date of last inspection.
(5) 
Length of time the vehicle has been in use.
(6) 
The number of persons the vehicle is capable of carrying.
(7) 
The motor power, make and value of the vehicle.
(8) 
Proof of insurance in conformance with the requirements of § 353-15.
B. 
License fee. A separate license application shall be filed and a separate license fee shall be paid for each vehicle. The annual license fee per vehicle is set forth in Chapter 135, Fees and Costs.
C. 
Issuance of license; contents; display.
(1) 
Limousine owner's licenses shall be granted by the Township Council, and a license certificate shall be issued by the Clerk. The certificate shall contain:
(a) 
The name of the applicant.
(b) 
The official state license plate number of the limousine.
(c) 
The applicant's place of business.
(d) 
A statement that in case of any complaint the Chief of Police shall be notified.
(2) 
The certificate shall be affixed to a conspicuous part of the interior of the limousine and shall be open to the view of all passengers.
A. 
Insurance requirements.
(1) 
No limousine shall be operated wholly or partly along any street in this Township until the owner of the limousine shall have filed with the Township Clerk, in which the owner has his/her principal place of business within this Township, a certificate of insurance naming the Township of West Milford as an additional insured, by a company duly licensed to transact business under the insurance laws of this state, in the sum of $1,500,000 against loss by reason of the liability imposed by law upon every limousine for damages on account of bodily injury or death suffered by a person as result of an accident occurring by reason of the ownership, maintenance or use of the limousine upon any public street.
(2) 
The operation shall be permitted only so long as the insurance policy remains in full force and effect as to the full and collectible amount of $1,500,000. Limousine owners, or anyone on their behalf, shall not undertake to cancel or have canceled any such policy without giving the Township Clerk 10 days' notice of the intention to do so. No such policy shall be filed by the Township Clerk unless such policy shall contain a provision to the effect that the Township Clerk shall be afforded at least 10 days' notice of the intention of the insurance company which issued such policy to cancel same.
(3) 
The insurance policy shall provide for a payment of any final judgment recovered by any person on account of the ownership, maintenance and use of such limousine upon any public street or any fault in respect thereto and shall be for the benefit of every person suffering loss, damage or injury as aforesaid.
B. 
Every person operating a limousine, whether an owner and/or driver, who is transporting a child under five years on roadways, streets or highways of this Township shall be responsible for the protection of the child by properly using a child passenger restraint system that complies with federal vehicle safety standards. No driver shall operate a limousine in which a child five years of age or younger is a passenger unless:
(1) 
A child 18 months of age or younger is in a car seat regardless of whether such child is in the front or rear seat;
(2) 
A child over 18 months of age but less than five years is in a car seat, if a front seat passenger, or is in a lap belt or lap belt and shoulder harness, if a rear seat passenger.
C. 
Issuance of license of operation; drivers to be licensed.
(1) 
The Township Clerk, upon the filing of the required application and certificate of insurance, shall issue a license, in duplicate, showing that the owner of the limousine service has complied with the terms and provisions of this chapter.
(2) 
The license shall state the name of the insurance company, the number and date of expiration of the policy and a description and the registration number of each limousine service insured thereunder. The duplicate license shall be filed with the Division of Motor Vehicles before any such vehicle is registered as a limousine service.
(3) 
A limousine shall not be operated by anyone for service within the Township unless the driver thereof has been issued a valid limousine driver's license.
D. 
Availability of license for inspection; minimum equipment standards.
(1) 
The original license shall be retained within the limousine and shall be available for inspection by any police officer of the state.
(2) 
No limousine shall operate on the highways of this state unless it has a license issued and the limousine is equipped, in accordance with minimum standards established by the Director of the Division of Motor Vehicles in the Department of Transportation, with:
(a) 
A two-way communications system, which, at a minimum, shall provide for communication to a person outside the vehicle for a distance of not less than 100 miles and which requirement may be satisfied by a mobile telephone.
(b) 
A removable first-aid kit and an operable fire extinguisher, which shall be placed in an accessible place within the vehicle.
(c) 
Sideboards attached to the permanent body construction of the vehicle if the height of the vehicle floor is 10 inches or more above ground level.
A. 
Applications.
(1) 
Applications for a limousine driver's license shall be made to the Township Administrator. The forms and information required shall be established by the Township Administrator.
(2) 
The application shall be accompanied by the fee set forth in Chapter 135, Fees and Costs, for the initial license period.
B. 
Issuance of license; contents. Upon approval of the application by the Township Administrator, the Clerk shall immediately issue the applicant a limousine driver's license. The license shall contain a licensee's name and address, physical description, signature and photograph.
C. 
Term of license; fees. An initial license to drive a limousine shall be valid for the remainder of the calendar year in which it is issued. A limousine driver's license may be renewed annually, unless it has been revoked or suspended, upon the payment of the fee set forth in Chapter 135, Fees and Costs.
The Township Council or its designee may, in its discretion, refuse to issue or renew or may, after notice and hearing, revoke or suspend any license issued under the provisions of this article if the applicant has been convicted of any crime, disorderly persons offense or petty disorderly in this state or in any other state or territory, or has been convicted of a violation under Title 39, Motor Vehicles and Traffic Regulation, of the Revised Statutes of New Jersey, or who violates any provision of this article or has any judgment unsatisfied of record arising out of an automobile accident or who has made false answers in the application for such license or any renewal thereof or who has failed or fails to render reasonably prompt, safe and adequate limousine services or who has not complied fully with all requirements of this article for such class of licensure, or if the licensee or applicant has in any degree contributed to any injury to person or damage to property arising out of negligent operation of motor vehicle or as to any limousine owner's license if the motor vehicle licensed or to be licensed by reason of unsafe or unsanitary conditions is dangerous to the safety or health of the occupants, and others, or if the policy of insurance required herein has once lapsed or such coverage is not maintained at all times, or a limousine, at any time, carries more passengers than the same is authorized to carry by the terms of this article.
No lettering, emblem or advertising may be placed on a licensed limousine.
Limousine drivers shall not knowingly solicit business in a manner similar to that of a taxicab or attempt to solicit business by knowingly misleading a prospective passenger.
Nothing in this article shall exempt any person owning or operating a limousine from complying with the laws relating to the ownership, regulation and operation of limousines in the State of New Jersey.
A person who shall own and operate a limousine in any street in this state in violation of the provisions of this article shall be subject to the following penalties:
A. 
For operating a limousine without a license issued by a municipality, operating a limousine without authority to operate a limousine in interstate service granted by the Federal Highway Administration, or the Interstate Commerce Commission, knowingly permitting a driver to operate a limousine without a validly issued driver's license or a validly issued commercial driver's license, if required, failure to have filed an insurance policy, operating a limousine in which the number of passengers exceeds the maximum: a fine of $1,000 for the first offense and a fine of $2,000 for the second or subsequent offense.
B. 
For operating a limousine without the special registration plates required or operating a limousine without the limousine being properly inspected: a fine of $1,000 for the first offense and a fine of $2,000 for the second or subsequent offense.
C. 
For operating a limousine without the attached sideboards, if required, failure to retain within the limousine appropriate proof of insurance or failure to execute and deliver to the Director of the Division of Motor Vehicles the power of attorney required: a fine of $250 for the first offense and $500 for the second and subsequent offense.
D. 
For failure to be equipped with a two-way communications system, a removable first-aid kit or an operable fire extinguisher: a fine of $50 for the first offense and $100 for the second and subsequent offense.
In the event that the limousine is being operated by a party who does not have the license called for in this article, both the driver and the owner of the limousine shall be subject to the penalty provisions hereinabove set forth.