No person shall operate any taxicab within this Township unless both the taxicab and the driver thereof are licensed pursuant to this chapter or have obtained a permit pursuant to § 251-6 of this chapter and conform to all the provisions hereof.
There are hereby established two classes of taxicab licenses
to be known as a "taxicab driver's license" and a "taxicab owner's
license," respectively.
A taxicab driver's license shall entitle the person named
therein to operate within this Township any taxicab duly licensed
hereunder until the license either expires or is surrendered, suspended
or revoked, and it shall not be transferable.
A taxicab owner's license shall entitle the taxicab therein
described to be operated in this Township by a driver duly licensed
hereunder until the license expires or is surrendered, suspended or
revoked, and it shall not be transferable.
A taxicab owner's permit shall only entitle the taxicab
therein described to be operated in this Township to the extent permitted
by Subsection A by a driver duly licensed in a municipality that has
substantially the same taxicab regulations as this Township and that
extends to the taxicab license holders of this Township a reciprocal
privilege of operating to the same extent in that municipality. Such
permit shall continue until either it or the license in the other
municipality expires or is surrendered, suspended or revoked. The
permit shall not be transferable and shall apply only to the taxicab
therein described.
A.
Scope of permit. The operation of a taxicab pursuant to such taxicab
owner's permit shall be limited strictly to the one-way transportation
of passengers from a point of pickup outside of the Township directly
to the point of discharge in this Township where the passenger shall
be immediately discharged and the taxicab shall immediately leave
the Township empty. The permit specifically does not permit picking
up passengers in the Township for any purpose, including transportation
of a passenger from place to place within this Township or from a
place within the Township to a point without the Township, nor permit
parking, waiting, cruising or other forms of direct solicitation with
such taxicab within this Township. Neither shall a permittee or taxicab
owner not licensed or possessing such a permit in any way hold the
taxicab out as authorized to pick up passengers in this Township,
whether by advertisement or otherwise. Violation of this or any other
section of the chapter shall be cause for revocation of the permit.
B.
Permit subject to provisions of this chapter. A taxicab owner's
permit shall be issued in the same manner and shall be subject to
all of the rules, regulations and provisions of this chapter that
apply to taxicab owner's licenses with the exception that the
taxicab need not have installed therein a meter.
C.
Permit fees. The annual fee for each taxicab owner's permit
hereafter issued or any renewal thereof shall be $50 for each year
or portion of a year for which the permit is issued or renewed.
Any licenses issued pursuant to the terms of this chapter shall
expire at 12:00 midnight of the 31st day of December of the year in
which it was issued, unless sooner surrendered, suspended or revoked.
At any time, the number of taxicab owner's licenses issued
and outstanding shall not exceed 15 licenses, but this number may
be increased or decreased by resolution of the Township Council after
public hearing pursuant to advertised notice thereof published at
least 10 days before such hearing, to such number as Council, in its
discretion, may deem necessary to adequately serve public necessity
and convenience. The number of taxicab driver's licenses or taxicab
owner's permits shall not be limited.
All applications for the issuance or renewal of any license
of either class shall be made to the Township Council on forms adopted
by the Council and obtained from the Township Clerk and designed to
elicit information respecting the identification, responsibility and
law-abiding habits of the applicant.
A.
Requirements; procedure. Each applicant for a license of any class
shall supply the information requested on the application in full
and verify the correctness thereof by his oath or affirmation and
thereafter file the completed application with the Township Clerk,
together with the full amount of the proper fee hereafter fixed, at
least three weeks before the application shall be acted upon by the
Township Council. The Clerk shall notify each Councilman, in writing,
of the name and address of the applicant and the type of license sought
and shall post notice after application in at least one public place
in the Township.
B.
Photograph requirement. Each applicant for a taxicab driver's
license shall file with his application two photographs, each 3 1/2
inches by 3 1/2 inches in size, clearly depicting the facial
features of the applicant, both of which photographs shall thereupon
become the property of the Township and be retained with the application
form, unless the application shall be issued, in which event one of
such photographs shall be permanently affixed to the license card
in a space provided thereon.
C.
Fingerprint requirement. Every applicant for a taxicab driver's
license shall, at the time of filing his application, be fingerprinted
by the Mount Holly Police Department; an impression of such fingerprints
shall thereupon be forwarded forthwith by the Police Department to
the Bureau of Identification of the New Jersey State Police for a
report of the applicant's criminal record, which report, when
received, shall be permanently affixed to the application before consideration
thereof by Township Council.
D.
Physical examination of operator. The applicant for a taxicab operator's
license shall be examined by a reputable doctor licensed to practice
medicine in the State of New Jersey and shall file with his application
for the issuance or renewal of an operator's license a doctor's
certificate dated within 30 days of filing showing that the applicant
is in good general health, free of any communicable disease and has
no past history of epilepsy, coronary thrombosis, cerebral hemorrhage
or other affliction which might cause sudden loss of control of a
taxicab.
Every applicant for a taxicab owner's license shall, together
with his application, submit an insurance policy of a company duly
licensed to transact business under the insurance laws of this state
conditioned for the payment of a sum as provided in N.J.S.A. 48:16-3
on account of any accident, by reason of the ownership, operation,
maintenance or use of such taxicab upon any public street.
The annual fee for each taxicab driver's license hereafter
issued, or any renewal thereof, shall be $100 for each year or portion
of a year for which the license is issued or renewed, and the annual
fee for each taxicab owner's license issued or renewed shall
be $200 for each year or portion of a year for which the license is
issued or renewed. Such fees shall not be prorated nor any part thereof
refunded for any reason.
A.
The Township Council may, in its discretion, refuse to issue or renew
or may, after notice and hearing, revoke or suspend:
(1)
Any license of either class if the applicant for the license has
been once convicted of being a disorderly person or of a violation
of Title 39, Motor Vehicles and Traffic Regulation, of the Revised
Statutes of New Jersey or who violates any provision of this chapter
or has any judgment unsatisfied of record against him arising out
of an automobile accident or who has made false answers in his application
for such license or any renewal thereof or who has not complied fully
with all requirements of this chapter for such class of license; or,
in addition:
(2)
Any taxicab driver's license, if the license or applicant has
in any degree contributed to any injury to a person or damage to property
arising out of negligent operation of a motor vehicle or has any communicable
or contagious disease; or
(3)
Any taxicab owner's license of the motor vehicle licensed or
to be licensed, if, by reason of unsafe or unsanitary condition, it
is dangerous to the safety or health of the occupants or others or
if the policy of insurance required herein has once lapsed or such
coverage is not maintained at all times.
A.
The Chief of the Police Department may temporarily suspend any license of either class, forthwith, when it reasonably appears to him that there is probable cause to revoke or suspend a license for one or more of the reasons enumerated in § 251-12 hereof and that immediate suspension pending hearing by the Township Council is required for protection of public health, safety or welfare.
B.
Written notice of such temporary suspension and the cause thereof
shall be forthwith served upon the licensee and shall contain:
(1)
A specification of the charges.
(2)
A specification of the reasons why public health, safety or welfare
requires an immediate temporary suspension.
(3)
Direction to show cause to the Township Council, at a meeting thereof
at a time and place therein specified, why the license should not
be further suspended or revoked for the causes so specified.
(4)
Notice of his right to an immediate hearing before the Chief of Police
or at such other reasonable time, prior to the hearing by Council,
as he may request to show cause why the temporary suspension should
not be lifted.
A.
Each applicant granted a taxicab driver's license shall be issued
a license card in evidence, in a form approved by Township Council
and signed by the Township Clerk in its behalf.
B.
The license card shall at all times be prominently displayed and
adequately protected in the interior of any taxicab operated by the
licensee so that the face thereof shall be at all times in the full
view of and plainly legible to any passenger seated in the rear seat
of the taxicab.
C.
The license card shall at all times be and remain the property of
the Township and at the directions of Council shall at any time be
surrendered to the Township Clerk.
D.
No taxicab driver's license card, other than that of the licensee
actually operating the cab at the time, shall be displayed therein.
A.
No taxicab shall hereafter be operated in this Township unless and
until there is prominently displayed in the interior, within the full
view and access of any passengers, a complete list of fares, charges
or tariff rates charged for transportation of passengers, which fares,
charges and tariff rates so displayed, and no other shall be those
to be charged any passenger so transported. A copy of such list of
fares, charges or tariff rates shall be filed with the Manager and
shall at all times correspond to the list so displayed in the taxicab.
B.
It shall be unlawful for an owner or driver of a taxicab to charge
or cause to be charged for the transportation of a passenger from
place to place within the Township a greater sum for the use of a
taxicab than in accordance with the posted rates. Any additional charge
for transportation of trunks, suitcases, shopping bags and the like
shall be negotiated and agreed upon between passenger and driver prior
to commencing the trip.
C.
The driver of any taxicab shall, upon demand by any passenger, render
to such passenger a receipt stating the name of the driver, the taxicab
license number, the amount of the meter reading or charge and the
date and time of the transaction.
D.
Any taxicab owner or driver shall have the right to demand payment
of the estimated legal fare in advance of transporting any passengers,
refunding any excess immediately upon termination of the trip, and
the owner or driver also has the right to refuse to transport a disorderly
or unruly person.
E.
All disputes as to the rate of fare shall upon request of the driver
or passenger, be determined by the police officer then in charge at
the Township police headquarters.
G.
Operation without taximeter.
(1)
With the approval of the Township Council, a taxicab may be operated
without a taximeter. In such event, no fare greater than that set
forth below shall be charged:
(a)
For transporting up to three people between any two points in
Mount Holly Township: $2.
(b)
For transporting four or more people between any two points
in Mount Holly Township: $3.
(c)
For the first three minutes or part thereof of waiting time:
no charge.
(d)
For each additional three minutes or part thereof of waiting
time: $0.20.
(2)
Application to dispense with taximeters shall be made to the Township
Council through the Township Manager on such forms as provided by
him. All applications shall set forth the reasons for the application.
Notice of the application shall be posted in each taxicab owned by
the applicant, whether or not such taxicab is sought to be exempt,
and in the area supermarkets, at least 10 days prior to the date of
the Council meeting at which the application is scheduled to be considered,
and shall also be published at least seven days prior to such Council
meeting in the official newspaper of the Township. Such notice shall
advise the public of the nature of the application and the time, date
and place of the Council meeting for consideration of the same.
Every taxicab so licensed shall have painted 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," "cab" or
"taxicab" or an electric sign affixed to the top of the motor vehicle
in clear view from all sides bearing the words "taxi," "cab" or "taxicab."
A.
The owner of each taxicab so licensed shall keep or cause to be kept
a written daily record of each trip made by the taxicab showing the
date, time and place the cab was engaged; the place and time of discharge
of the passenger; the number of passengers carried; the fare received;
the distance traveled; and the taxicab driver's license number
of the person driving the cab on the trip. The records shall be kept
in a place so that it is convenient for a proper authorized representative
of the Township to inspect the same and the owner shall give his full
cooperation in expediting the inspection.
B.
There shall also be reported to the Township Clerk the happening
of an accident involving such taxicab or the loss of property left
in the taxicab by a passenger within 24 hours after such event.
No person shall park any taxicab on any of the streets of the
Township at any time except at such place or places as Township Council
may designate as municipal taxi stands.
No person shall cruise on the streets of this Township with
any taxicab at any time for the purpose of soliciting passengers.
Vehicles used as taxicabs within the Township shall have at
least one door on each side of the vehicle for passenger use and a
separate door for driver use.
The owner and operator of each taxicab operating in the Township
shall keep his taxicab in good running order so that it makes a presentable
appearance and affords comfortable safe rides to passengers, free
from mechanical defects, loose fenders, dents, loose doors, broken
or soiled upholstery and broken or cracked glass. The owner of each
taxicab shall present his taxicab to the Chief of Police or other
designated officer prior to the issuance or renewal of his license
and once every three months after such issuance or renewal so that
it may be inspected to determine that it complies with the provisions
of this chapter.
The owner of a taxicab shall operate his taxicab or cause to
have it operated and on duty available to the public continuously,
except between the hours of 1:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m., which shall constitute
the minimum hours of operation.
There is hereby established the taxicab stand or hack stand
on the east side of White Street from a point 15 feet south of Mill
Street to a point 115 feet south of Mill Street.
A.
Taxicabs shall be parked on the taxicab stand and no other place
within the Township except when off duty.
B.
Not more than five taxicabs shall occupy the stand at any one time.
C.
The owners and operators of taxicabs shall remain inside their respective
taxicabs while the taxicab is parked on the stand except to answer
telephone calls.
D.
The owners and operators of taxicabs shall not:
(1)
Yell or shout to or at pedestrians, other operators or passing motorists;
(2)
Block either the sidewalk or roadway to pedestrians or vehicular
traffic;
(3)
Litter the adjacent sidewalk or street with paper, wrappers, cigarette
or cigar butts or other trash; or
(4)
Create an unsanitary nuisance in the vicinity of the hack stand.
E.
The owners and operators of taxicabs shall be responsible, and they
shall keep the taxicab stand and adjacent and surrounding area clear,
neat and in an orderly appearance.
The operator of each taxicab shall at all times have available
a suitable cash receipt book to write out, sign and give to any passenger
requesting the same a written receipt in the amount of the fare paid.
The operator of each taxicab shall permit no other person to
occupy the front seat of the taxicab unless the rear seat is fully
occupied by passengers while the taxicab is on duty.
The operator of a taxicab shall not smoke a cigarette, cigar
or pipe while the taxicab is occupied by a passenger or passengers.
Any person or persons who shall violate any of the provisions
of this chapter shall, upon conviction thereof, be subject to the
penalty stated in N.J.S.A. 48:16-12.
