As used in this chapter, the following words shall have the meanings
indicated:
BASED IN THE TOWNSHIP
A base of operation from which a taxicab is dispatched or which it
is stored or parked when not in use within the Township. It shall be presumed
that the base of operation is within the Township if one or more of the telephone
numbers the public is invited to call rings at a location within the Township.
CRUISING
The practice of driving about the roads or highways of the Township
with a taxicab so as to solicit passengers or to bring the presence of the
taxicab to the attention of prospective passengers. A taxicab driving along
the roads or highways of this Township for any purpose other than while transporting
a passenger, going to a definite destination by the most direct route in response
to a call for a taxicab by a prospective passenger or returning by the most
direct route to the taxicab's home terminus after discharging a passenger
or going to or from the terminus to the driver's home by the most direct
route shall be prima facie evidence of cruising.
OPERATION OF A TAXICAB
Consists of transporting one or more persons for hire in a taxicab
which is based in the Township. Accepting a passenger to be transported for
hire from a point of departure within the Township to a destination within
or without the Township shall be considered operation of a taxicab within
the Township. The operation of a taxicab by one other than the owner shall
be deemed operation by the owner as well as by the person actually driving
the taxi. The transportation of any person other than the owner or driver
in any motor vehicle bearing a sign using the words"taxi," "taxicab," "cab"
or "hack" 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 the Division's
records to be a conditional vendee or lessee or has any other proprietary
interest in a taxicab.
TAXICAB or TAXI
A motor vehicle used to transport passengers for hire which does
not operate over a fixed route and is not hired by the day or hour.
Each taxicab operated in the Township shall have a sign painted on each
rear door. The sign shall contain the owner's name and the word "taxicab"
or "taxi," in letters which shall not be less than four nor more than eight
inches in height.
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 N.J.S.A. 48:16-1 to 48:16-22 inclusive, together with any amendments or supplements adopted or hereafter
adopted relative thereto; except, however, that such insurance policy shall
be in an amount not less than $300,000 to satisfy all claims for damages by
reason of bodily injuries to or the death of any one person resulting from
an accident and a sum of not less than $500,000 to satisfy all claims for
damages by reason of the bodily injuries to or the death of all persons on
account of any such accident by reason of ownership, operation, maintenance
or use of such taxicab upon any public street and conditioned for the payment
of a sum of not less than $25,000 to satisfy any claim for damages to property
of any one person resulting from an accident and a sum of not less than $25,000
to satisfy all claims for damages to property of all persons on account of
any such accident by reason of ownership, operation, maintenance or use of
such taxicab upon any public street.
The owner of each taxicab so licensed shall keep or require to be kept
a written record of each trip made by the taxicab showing the number of daily
trips, the date and the time when the trip begins and ends. Such records shall
not be destroyed for one year from the date of the trip and shall be kept
within the Township in readily accessible form and shall be accessible at
all reasonable hours for inspection by the Township Committee or by local,
state, federal or military law enforcement agencies.
No person shall cruise on the roads or highways of the Township of Manalapan
with any taxicab at any time for the purpose of soliciting passengers.
The Township Committee may establish, by resolution, rules and regulations
relating to the operating of taxicabs and the conduct of licensees. A copy
of the rules and regulations shall be furnished to each licensee.
In addition to the causes for revocation of a license set forth in Ch.
137, Licenses and Permits, any license issued under this chapter may be revoked or suspended, or any application for the issuance or renewal of a license denied, for any of the following reasons:
A. Failure to render reasonable, prompt, safe and adequate
taxicab service.
B. The existence of a judgment unsatisfied of record against
the licensee or applicant in any suit arising over the operation of a motor
vehicle.
C. Permitting any taxicab owned or driven by the licensee
to become unsafe, unsanitary or dirty.
D. Failure to comply with all applicable laws of the State
of New Jersey, the ordinances of the Township or the rules and regulations
adopted in accordance with this chapter.
E. Permitting a driver to operate a taxicab as follows:
(1) During the revocation or suspension of his New Jersey
Motor Vehicle operator's license.
(2) In a reckless or grossly negligent manner, or habitually
operating a taxicab in a negligent manner or while having a communicable or
contagious disease.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated:
AUTOCAB
Any automobile or motor car with a carrying capacity of not more
than nine passengers, not including the driver, used in the business of carrying
passengers for hire which is held out, announced or advertised to operate
or run or which is operated or run over any of the streets or public highways
of the state, and which is hired by the charter or for a particular contract,
or by the day or hour or other fixed period, or to transport passengers to
a specified place or places, or which charges a fare or price agreed upon
in advance between the operator and the passenger. Nothing in this section
contained shall be construed to include taxicabs, hotel buses or buses employed
solely in transporting school children or teachers or autobuses which are
subject to the jurisdiction of the Board of Public Utilities, or interstate
autobuses required by federal or state law or rules of the Board of Public
Utilities to carry insurance against loss from liability imposed by law on
account of bodily injury or death.
STREET
Any street, avenue, park, parkway, highway, or other public place.
Whenever a certification is requested to be issued pursuant to N.J.S.A.
48:16-13 et seq., an application shall be completed and submitted to the office
of the Township Clerk for the issuance of said certification together with
the following:
A. Written evidence that the limousine shall not be stored
or parked overnight in any residential zone within the Township of Manalapan.
B. A copy of a certificate of insurance indicating the statutory
minimum liability coverage.
C. An executed power of attorney to the Chief Fiscal Officer
of the Township for purposes of acknowledging service of process from any
court of competent jurisdiction.
D. The above certificate shall only be issued upon compliance
with the above requirements. The forms for the power of attorney and the application
shall be in accordance with the form issued by the Township Clerk.
Each applicant shall be charged the fee of $25 per limousine for a certification issued pursuant to §
211-12 of this chapter.