[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee (now Township Council) of the Township of Greenwich 3-3-1947. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Vehicles and traffic — See Ch. 140.
A. 
Terms defined. As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
TAXICAB
Any automobile, taxicab or other vehicle propelled by motor power and engaged in the business of transporting passengers for hire or pay within the Township of Greenwich.
B. 
Word usage. Words used in the singular number shall include the plural and words used in the plural number shall include the singular.
[1]
Editor's Note: Former Subsection (b) of this section, concerning the definition of the word "person," was deleted 10-4-1976.
The licensing, regulating and inspecting of taxicabs, the examination of applicants for licenses who own and operate such taxicabs and the enforcement of the provisions of this chapter shall be under the control of the Township Council.
[Amended 4-7-1953; 4-5-1954]
No person shall hire out, keep or use for hire or pay, or cause to be kept or used for hire or pay, any taxicab without first having obtained a license for that purpose from the Township Council for each and every taxicab. Such license shall be known as a "taxicab license," shall be identified by a suitable number and shall be issued for a particular taxicab. The number of such licenses outstanding shall be determined at the discretion of the Township Council of the Township of Greenwich.
Every person obtaining a taxicab license must be at least 21 years of age and a citizen of the United States. If the licensee is a corporation, such a corporation must be organized and existing under the laws of the State of New Jersey and shall maintain an office in the Township of Greenwich.
[Amended 4-7-1953]
A. 
No license shall be issued until the taxicab has been thoroughly inspected and found to be in a safe condition for the transportation of passengers, of good appearance, well painted and varnished. There must be submitted with the application a certified check for the annual premium for such license and a certificate from the Police Department of the Township of Greenwich that said taxicab is in a clean and sanitary condition.
B. 
The Township Council is hereby authorized to establish reasonable rules and regulations for the inspection of public vehicles and for their construction and condition of fitness and use, specifically to provide, among other things, that at least one taxicab will be in operation for the convenience of the general public in all of the 24 hours of every day; and the Township Council may revoke or suspend the license of any vehicle found to be unfit or unsuited, or not complying with the rules and regulations herein set forth or hereinafter promulgated, for the public patronage. The licensees may, by an agreement between themselves, establish a schedule, which shall be filed with the Chief of Police of the Township of Greenwich and which will show that service within the Township is to be maintained on a twenty-four-hour basis. The failure of any licensee to properly cooperate with the other licensees in making and maintaining said schedule shall be grounds for the revocation or suspension of said license.
A. 
All applications for taxicabs licenses shall be in writing, in duplicate, and shall contain the full name and address of the owner, the serial number, type, color, age and make of the taxicab, the number of persons it is to carry and, as references, the names and addresses of two responsible property owners of the Township of Greenwich. Any and every change of address of the owner shall be reported, in writing, to the Township Clerk within three days after such change.
B. 
All applications shall be filed with the Township Clerk who shall submit said applications to the Township Council at the next succeeding meeting for action, and any or all applications may be granted or refused by a vote of the members of said body present at such meeting.
Every applicant for a taxicab license shall, in addition to the requirements herein provided and of any law of this state, prove to the satisfaction of the Township Council that he is over the age of 21 years; that he is in good health, has good eyesight and is 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 any indictable offense or reckless driving; and that he has knowledge of the state Motor Vehicle Department's traffic regulations and of the ordinances and geography of the Township. Every license so issued shall be revoked upon conviction of two violations of the state motor vehicle statutes.
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 Revised N.J.S.A. 48:16-1 to 48:16-22, inclusive, together with any amendments or supplements adopted or hereinafter adopted relative thereto.
No taxicab owner or operator shall cruise the streets of the Township with any taxicab at any time for the purpose of soliciting passengers.
No taxicab shall be permitted to park in the Township of Greenwich, except in those spaces in the Township designated by the Township Council and marked by it as a "taxi stand" or at such other places off the public streets as may hereafter be approved by resolution of the Township Council.
No licensed taxicab, while waiting employment by passengers, shall stand on any public street or place other than at or upon the designated public taxicab stand, 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 railroad station, theater, hotel, restaurant or other public place; however, employment may be solicited by driving through any public street or place, without stops other than those due to obstructions or traffic, at a rate of speed that will not interfere with or impede traffic.
There shall be affixed in every taxicab, in such a 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 length, containing the name of the owner, the license number of the vehicle and the year of issue.
The rate of fare to be charged within the Township limits of the Township of Greenwich and surrounding limits shall be posted so that it may be conspicuously seen by any passenger in any part of the taxicab.
Every driver of a taxicab shall have the right to demand the payment of the legal fare in advance and may refuse employment unless so prepaid; however, 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 a taxicab shall carry any person other than the first passenger employing him without the consent of said first passenger.
Side curtains or shades shall not be permitted on any taxicab.
A. 
The fees for the issuance of the licenses herein referred to shall be, for each taxicab license, the sum of $50 per year or any fraction thereof.
B. 
The fees herein fixed for the issuance of such licenses are imposed for revenue purposes.
[Amended 9-18-1961]
All licenses to be issued under the provisions of this chapter shall be issued in the name of the Township and under the hand of the Mayor and Clerk of the Township, and all licenses issued hereunder shall expire January 1 next succeeding the date thereof unless sooner suspended or revoked. No license issued hereunder shall be sold or transferred by the holder thereof.
Any license may be revoked or suspended at any time for cause upon the recommendation of the Township Council.
[Amended 10-4-1976[1]]
Every person or persons, firm or corporation found guilty of violating any of the provisions of this chapter shall be liable to a fine of not more than $2,000 or imprisonment in the county jail for not more than 90 days, and/or 90 days of community service. Each succeeding day of violation shall be construed to be a new violation.
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).