As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated:
LIMOUSINE
Any vehicle which is owned or operated by a person having its principal
place of business within the Township of Independence and which is 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 not to
exceed 14 passengers, not including the driver, provided that such 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.
OPERATOR
Any natural person who operates a taxicab or limousine and includes
both employees and subcontractors of an owner.
OPERATOR'S LICENSE
A license issued to each operator of a taxicab or limousine licensed
under this chapter.
OWNER
Any person in whose name title to any taxicab or limousine is registered
with the Division of Motor Vehicles in the Department of Law and Public Safety
of the State of New Jersey, or who appears in such records to be the licensee
thereof.
OWNER'S LICENSE
A license issued to any owner for each taxicab or limousine licensed
under this chapter.
PERSON
Includes any individual, association, corporation, limited-liability
company and any other entity.
STREET
Includes any street, avenue, park, parkway, highway or other public
place.
TAXICAB
Includes any automobile, van or motor car which is designed to carry
not more than six passengers, excluding the operator of the vehicle, commonly
called a "taxi" or "cab," engaged in the business of carrying passengers for
hire which is held out, announced or advertised to accept or which accepts
such persons as may offer themselves for transportation from points or places
within the Township to points or places within or without the Township.
This chapter shall apply to:
A. All owners and/or operators of taxicabs having a principal place
of business within the Township or otherwise engaging in the business of carrying
passengers for hire by operating a vehicle which is held out, announced or
advertised to accept or which accepts such persons as may offer themselves
for transportation from points or places within the Township to points or
places within or without the Township; and
B. All owners and/or operators of limousines having a principal
place of business within the Township of Independence.
Except as provided in §
354-8 of this chapter, no person shall operate a taxicab or limousine business in the Township of Independence without a license issued pursuant to this chapter. A separate owner's license shall be issued for each taxicab and limousine, and a separate operator's license shall be issued for each operator.
The license fees are fixed for the purpose of regulation and control
and shall be paid annually, in the manner and amounts set forth below, to
the Township as an application fee and for conducting or engaging in the business
aforementioned.
A. The annual fee for a limousine owner's license and any
renewals thereof shall be $50 per vehicle. In the event that an application
for license is denied, the Township shall retain $50 as a nonrefundable application
fee.
B. The annual fee for a taxicab owner's license and any
renewals thereof shall be $250 per vehicle. In the event that an application
for license is denied, the Township shall retain $50 as a nonrefundable application
fee.
C. The annual fee for a each operator's license and any
renewals thereof shall be $30. In the event that an application for license
is denied, the Township shall retain $10 as a nonrefundable application fee,
and the balance shall be returned to the applicant.
D. The applicant shall submit a separate certified or bank cashier's check in the amount set forth by the Division of State Police - S.B.I. for each person requiring a criminal background check with the fingerprint cards required pursuant to §
354-4B or
C above.
E. If any license becomes lost or destroyed, a new license
shall be furnished by the Township Clerk upon payment of the sum of $10.
F. Any owner may transfer an owner's license from a licensed
vehicle to any other vehicle which meets the requirements of this chapter
upon the payment of the sum of $25.
All taxicabs shall be equipped with an accurate taximeter, which shall
be fastened to the taxicab in such a manner as to be visible to all passengers
at all times. Such taximeter shall display the rate at which passengers are
charged, as well as the total amount of the cab fare as it accumulates. The
Chief of Police is authorized to inspect any taximeter with or without cause
to determine its accuracy. Nothing contained herein shall prevent an owner
or operator from charging a prearranged flat fee, provided that the operator
shall notify any passenger of the total amount of such flat fee prior to providing
services hereunder.
Each motor vehicle licensed as a taxicab shall have displayed on both
sides thereof the words "taxi" or "cab" in letters at least six inches high
or the name of the operating owner containing the words "taxi" or "cab" or
"taxicab."
The owner of each vehicle licensed as a taxicab or limousine shall keep
a written record of each trip made by the vehicle, showing the number of delivery
trips made by that vehicle. Such records shall not be destroyed for one year
and shall be kept within the Township and shall be presented upon the demand
of the Chief of Police or Township Clerk for his or her inspection.
Any person who shall violate any provision of this chapter shall, upon
conviction thereof, be punishable by a fine not exceeding $500 or by imprisonment
in the county jail for a term not to exceed 90 days, or both. Except as otherwise
provided, each and every day in which a violation of any provision of this
chapter exists shall constitute a separate violation.