[HISTORY: Adopted by the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Runnemede 9-3-1946 by Ord. No. 88 (Ch. 101 of the 1970 Code). Amendments noted where applicable.]
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
AUTOCAB
Includes any automobile or motorcar commonly called a taxi, engaged 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 Borough of Runnemede, and which particularly accepts and discharges such persons as may offer themselves for transportation from points or places to points or places within or without the Borough of Runnemede.
PERSON
Includes any individual or partnership, corporation, association or joint-stock company, their lessees, trustees or receivers appointed by any court whatsoever.
PUBLIC HACK STAND
A section of a public street or place set apart by the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Runnemede for the exclusive use of a limited number of autocabs.
STREET
Includes any street, avenue, park, parkway, highway or other public place.
No autocab shall be operated upon the streets or public places of the Borough of Runnemede unless the owner thereof shall have caused said autocab to be licensed as herein provided and shall have complied with the laws of the State of New Jersey relating to autocabs; nor shall any cab licensed hereunder be driven by any person unless the driver thereof has been duly issued an automobile driver's license by the State of New Jersey.
[Amended 3-2-1971 by Ord. No. 249]
No autocab stand shall be licensed until an application therefor shall have been made in writing and filed with the Borough Clerk in the form provided by the Borough therefor and unless said applicant shall agree to operate said autocab within the Borough of Runnemede for at least six days in every week and at least eight hours in each operating day and unless such applicant shall be determined to be of good moral character and until the owner thereof shall have submitted proof satisfactory to the Mayor and Borough Council that such owner is financially able to pay any judgment which may be obtained against him for injuries or damages to persons and property resulting from an accident occurring by reason of the ownership, maintenance or use of such autocab or cabs owned and operated by the same owner and shall have filed with the Borough Clerk an insurance policy of a company duly licensed to transact business under the insurance laws of this state in the sum of at least $100,000 per individual and $300,000 per accident against loss, damage or injury, as aforesaid, and provided further that if such person operates more than one autocab, such coverage shall apply to each and every vehicle so operated.
Every person operating autocabs as aforesaid shall execute and deliver to the Borough Clerk at the time of the filing of the insurance policy or bond aforesaid a power of attorney in which the owner shall appoint the chief fiscal officer of the Borough as his true and lawful attorney for the purpose of acknowledging service of any process out of a court of competent jurisdiction to be served against such person by virtue of the indemnity granted under the insurance policy or bond filed as aforesaid.
[Amended 4-5-1988 by Ord. No. 88-4]
Every application for a license for an autocab shall set forth the full name and address of the owner, the make and character of the autocab, the length of time it has been in use, the number of persons it is capable of carrying and a place where it may be inspected by the Mayor and Borough Council or its duly authorized representatives and the days of the week and the hours of such days when it is proposed to operate such autocab. Each application shall be accompanied by a fee of $50 for each autocab to be licensed; provided, however, that in the case of a license issued after the first day of August in any year, the fee for the balance of such year shall be $25.
Every autocab license shall expire on the 31st day of December in the year in which it is issued; provided, however, that if an application for renewal shall have been filed on or before December 31, said autocab may be operated pending the issuance of a new license until the 15th day of January next succeeding; and provided further that application for licenses for the calendar year following the year in which the application is filed shall not be filed prior to the 15th day of December in the year in which the application is filed.
Every licensed autocab shall display in a manner required or approved by the Mayor and Borough Council, its license number. Upon the issuance of the license of any autocab, there shall be furnished to the owner a card setting forth the name and address of the owner and the number of the license, which card shall be permanently displayed in the interior of the autocab, together with a statement or schedule of the charges for the use thereof.
The Mayor and Borough Council is hereby authorized and empowered to establish from time to time public hack stands in the several streets and public places of the Borough which it may determine to be for the best interest and convenience of the public, and shall cause the same to be clearly and distinctly marked by proper signs setting forth the exact locations and boundaries of such public hack stands and the number of autocabs which is permitted to occupy the same at one time.
No license shall be issued hereunder, nor shall any autocab licensed hereunder be operated or driven by any person, until such applicant or driver shall have first notified the police officer in charge of the Borough police of such intentions, and such officer shall, after an investigation of such applicant or driver, make a report thereof to the Mayor and Borough Council, which report shall be considered by said body in passing upon applications for licenses as aforesaid, and, in the case of drivers only, will be considered in passing upon the issuance of a certificate of approval, which is hereby declared as being essential to the driving of any autobus or taxi licensed hereunder; such certificates of approval are to be signed by the Mayor and attested by the Borough Clerk.
The Mayor and Borough Council, after a hearing, is hereby authorized and empowered to suspend or revoke any license issued under the provisions hereof for any violation of the law or of the provisions of this chapter, or for failure to comply with the provisions of Chapter 16, Title 48, of the Revised Statutes of New Jersey, or the amendments thereto or supplements thereof, or for failure to operate such autocab in the manner and at the times set forth in the application for such license.
[Amended 3-17-1970 by Ord. No. 238[1]]
Any person violating any of the provisions of this chapter shall, upon conviction thereof, be subject to the penalty as provided in § 1-15, General penalty, of this Code.
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
[Amended 3-17-1970 by Ord. No. 238]
This chapter shall take effect immediately upon publication as required by law, except that any license issued hereunder shall continue in force until December 31, of each year, unless revoked or suspended.