A.Â
Upon this chapter taking effect, applications shall be processed
on a first-come, first-served basis in accordance with the following
procedure:
(1)Â
Applications will be handed out on a first-come, first-served basis,
with each application having an application distribution number.
(2)Â
The first application handed out will have a distribution number
of No. 1, and all other applications distributed shall be numbered
consecutively.
(3)Â
All complete applications submitted on a given day shall be processed
in the order of their application distribution number.
(4)Â
Incomplete applications will be returned to the applicant for completion
and will be processed like a new applications when they are submitted
complete.
B.Â
Applications shall be available in the Township Clerk's office
and shall be designed to elicit information relevant to the identification
of vehicles to be licensed and the law-abiding habits of the applicant.
C.Â
A completed application shall contain all applicable information, and shall be accompanied by three passport-size photographs of the applicant, the required fee in accordance with § 311-15 herein and a parking authorization letter, and shall be sworn to by oath or affirmation. If information on the vehicle is unknown at the time the taxi driver's license is applied for, it shall be submitted to the Township Clerk's office prior to the issuance of the license.
D.Â
If the application is the applicant's first application for
a taxi driver's license, the applicant shall also sign the necessary
forms for the Director of Public Safety to secure a criminal history
record from the State Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
If the applicant is a partnership or corporation, each and every person
with any ownership interest in the company must sign the necessary
forms authorizing the Director of Public Safety to receive a criminal
history record. The applicant shall also submit the additional fee
required to cover the cost of fingerprinting and the SCIC/NCIC check
for each person having an ownership interest. If the applicant has
already been fingerprinted as part of a prior application, an additional
fee to update the criminal history record shall be required every
three years.
E.Â
Upon receipt of all required forms and fees from the applicant, the
Clerk shall forward the application to the Director of Public Safety.
F.Â
The Director of Public Safety shall conduct an investigation into
the applicant's background.
G.Â
The Director of Public Safety shall issue a report to the Township
Clerk recommending either approval or denial of the application within
10 days of receipt of the background information requested from the
State Police and/or Federal Bureau of Investigation.
H.Â
Upon receipt of the Director of Public Safety's Report, the
Township Council shall either issue or deny an applicant's taxi
driver's license.
Taxi driver's license. Each application for the issuance
or renewal of a taxi driver's license shall be accompanied by
an application fee of $100 for each calendar year or portion of a
year for which the license is issued. Such fee shall not be prorated,
nor shall any portion of said fee be refunded for any reason.
A.Â
Requirements. No license shall be issued unless the applicant meets
the following requirements:
(1)Â
The applicant must be at least 21 years of age.
(2)Â
The applicant must have a valid driver's license issued by the
State of New Jersey.
(3)Â
The applicant must have submitted along with the application a physician's
certification form available from the Township Clerk's office
certifying that the applicant has been examined and has no known affliction
that might render him/her unfit for the safe operation of a taxi and
that the applicant's eyesight is corrected to 20/20 with glasses.
Said physician's certification form shall be dated no more than
60 days prior to the date of application submission.
(4)Â
The applicant must not have been convicted of driving a motor vehicle
while under the influence of alcohol or narcotics within five years
prior to the date of application submission.
B.Â
Reasons for denial of a taxi driver's application. Reasons for
the Director of Public Safety to recommend denial of an application
for a taxi driver's license include, but shall not be limited
to, the following:
(1)Â
In New Jersey or elsewhere, any crime as follows: aggravated assault,
arson, burglary, escape, extortion, homicide, kidnapping, robbery,
aggravated sexual assault, sexual assault or endangering the welfare
of a child pursuant to N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4, whether or not armed with
or having in one's any weapon enumerated in Subdivision r of
N.J.S.A. 2C:39-1, a crime pursuant to the provisions of N.J.S.A. 2C:39-3,
N.J.S.A. 2C:39-4, or N.J.S.A. 2C:39-9, or other than a disorderly
persons or petty disorderly persons offense for the unlawful use,
possession or sale of a controlled dangerous substance as defined
in N.J.S.A. 2C:35-2.
(2)Â
In any other state, territory, commonwealth, or other jurisdiction of the United States, or any country in the world, as a result of a conviction in a court of competent jurisdiction, a crime which in that other jurisdiction or county is comparable to one of the crimes enumerated in § 311-17B(1) hereinabove.
(3)Â
The applicant does not comply with the requirements for issuance of a taxi driver's license as delineated in this § 311-17A.
(4)Â
The applicant has been convicted of a crime that raises serious questions
about the applicant's moral character.
(5)Â
The applicant has been convicted of three or more moving violations
within two years prior to the filing of the application.
(6)Â
The applicant has been convicted of driving under the influence of
alcohol or narcotics within five years prior to the filing of the
application.
(7)Â
The applicant has been deemed unfit to drive a taxi for just cause
by the Director of Public Safety.
A.Â
All taxi driver's licenses issued pursuant to the provisions
of this chapter shall expire at 11:59 p.m. on December 31 of the year
in which they were issued, unless said taxi driver's license
is surrendered, suspended or revoked on a sooner date.
B.Â
Applications for renewal shall be accepted beginning October 1 of
each year. However, if an application for renewal is not filed by
November 15 at the latest, the license applied for may not be ready
for issuance before the end of the calendar year, resulting in the
applicant not being able to operate or drive a taxi until such renewal
license is issued. A renewal application fee of $100 shall accompany
each renewal application.