[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee of the Township of Elk
7-16-1984. Amendments noted where applicable.]
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated:
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 of Elk.
The licensing, regulating and inspecting of taxicabs, examining applicants
for licenses who own and operate such taxicabs, the licensing of drivers as
hereinafter provided, and the enforcement of the provisions of this chapter
shall be under the control of the Township Committee.
A.
License required. No person shall solicit passengers
for hire or pay in Elk Township with any taxicab, without first having obtained
a license for that purpose from the Township Committee for each and every
taxicab. Such license shall be known as a "taxicab license," and it shall
be identified by a suitable number and shall be issued for a particular taxicab.
B.
Applicant's requirements. Every applicant must be of
good character and shall not have been convicted of an indictable offense
in this state or any other state. Every person obtaining a taxicab license
must be at least 21 years of age and a citizen of the United States and a
resident of the Township of Elk for a period of not less than one year prior
to his or her application, and in addition thereto shall maintain an office
in the Township of Elk.
C.
Inspection; application procedure. No license shall be
issued until said taxicab has been thoroughly inspected and found to be in
a safe condition for the transportation of passengers, of good appearance
and well painted; and there must be submitted with the application a certified
check for the annual fee for such license, a certificate from the Chief of
Police of the Township of Elk that said taxicab is in clean and sanitary condition.
The Township Committee is hereby authorized to establish reasonable rules
and regulations for the inspection of public vehicles and for their construction
and condition of fitness and may revoke or suspend the license of any vehicle
found to be unfitted or unsuited for public patronage.
D.
Form of application. All applications for taxicab licenses
shall be in writing and in duplicate, and shall contain the full name and
address of the owner, the serial number, type, color, age and maker of the
taxicab, the number of persons it is to carry, and the names and addresses
of two responsible property owners of the Township of Elk, as references.
Any and every change of address of the owner shall be reported in writing
to the Township Clerk within three days after such change.
E.
All applications shall be filed with the Township Clerk,
who shall submit said applications to the Township Committee at the next succeeding
meeting for action, and any or all applications may be granted or refused
by the majority vote of the members of said body present at such meeting.
A.
License required; license required to be carried.
(1)
No taxicab licensed under this chapter shall be maintained
or operated on the streets of the Township of Elk except by a driver licensed
by the Township Committee and known as a "licensed taxicab driver." Any and
every change of address of the driver as mentioned in this chapter shall be
reported in writing to the Township Clerk within 12 hours after such change.
(2)
The driver of every such taxicab shall at all times when
the same is in public carry a license bearing the inscription, "The Township
of Elk, License Number _________," (inserting the driver's license number)
which license shall be furnished and issued by the Township Clerk upon payment
of the driver's fee, and the driver shall not lend his license to another.
B.
Applicant's requirements. Every applicant for a driver's
license shall, in addition to the requirements herein provided and of any
law of this state, prove to the satisfaction of the Township Clerk that he
is over the age of 21 years; that he is in good health, with good eyesight
and not addicted to the use of intoxicating liquors; that he is able to read
and write the English language; that he is of good character; that he has
not been convicted of an indictable offense or of reckless driving and that
he has knowledge of the State Motor Vehicle Department's traffic regulations
and ordinances and geography of the township. He must furnish with the application
for such driver's license a recent photograph of himself, three inches in
length and four inches in height, in duplicate, one to be filed with the application
and the other to fit in a case to be always displayed to the rider in said
taxicab, and the names and addresses of two responsible property owners of
the Township of Elk as references. Such applicant for a driver's license under
this chapter shall be fingerprinted by the Chief of Police. Every license
so issued shall be revoked upon conviction of two violations of the state
motor vehicle statutes.
A.
The fees for the issuance of the licenses herein referred
to shall be as follows:
B.
The fees herein fixed for the issuance of such licenses
are imposed for costs of administration, and no license shall be issued according
to the provisions of this chapter until fees prescribed by this chapter are
paid.
C.
All licenses are required to be stamped by the township,
and a stamped license shall be prima facie evidence of payment of the fees
described herein.
All licenses to be issued under the provision of this chapter shall
be issued in the name of the township and under the hand of the Clerk, and
all licenses issued hereunder shall expire the 30th day of June next succeeding
the date thereof, unless sooner suspended or revoked.
Any license may be revoked or suspended at any time for cause upon the
recommendation of a majority of the members of the Township Committee.
A.
Insurance. No taxicab shall be licensed until an insurance
policy, or certificate in lieu thereof, and power of attorney executed, shall
have been filed with the Township Clerk as provided for taxicabs and autocabs
pursuant to the provisions of the N.J.S.A. 48:16-1 to 48:16-22, inclusive,
together with any amendments or supplements adopted or hereafter adopted relative
thereto.
B.
Solicitation of passengers. No taxicab owner or operator
shall cruise on the streets of this township with any taxicab at any time
for the purpose of soliciting passengers.
C.
Obstruction of traffic flow. No such licensed taxicab,
while waiting employment by passengers, shall stand on any public street or
place, nor shall any driver seek employment by repeatedly and persistently
driving to and fro on a short space before or by otherwise interfering with
the proper and ordinary access to or egress from any public place; but employment
may be solicited by driving through any public street or place without stops
other than those due to obstructions or traffic, and at a rate of speed that
will not interfere with or impede traffic.
D.
Display of license. There shall also be affixed in every
taxicab in such manner that the same can be conveniently read by any person
therein, a card at least three inches in height by at least five inches in
depth, containing the name of the owner, the license number of the vehicle
and the year of issue, and also a photograph of the licensed driver with his
license number.
E.
Fare rates. The rate of fare to be charged within the
township limits of the Township of Elk and surrounding limits shall be posted
so that it is conspicuously seen by passengers in any part of the taxicab.
F.
Payment; nondiscriminatory practice. Every driver of
such taxicab shall have the right to demand payment of legal fare in advance
and may refuse employment unless so prepaid, but no driver of such vehicle
shall otherwise refuse or neglect to convey any orderly person or persons
upon request anywhere in the township unless previously engaged or unable
to do so. No driver of any such taxicab shall carry any other person than
the first passenger employing him, without the consent of said passenger.
G.
Side curtains. Side curtains or shades shall not be permitted
on any such taxicab.
Any person, firm or corporation violating any section of this chapter
shall, upon conviction thereof, be subject to a fine not to exceed $500 or
to imprisonment in the County Jail for a term not to exceed 90 days, or to
both.
