As used in this chapter, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
OPERATION OF A TAXICAB
Transporting in a taxicab one or more persons for hire. 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 taxicab.
The transportation of any person other than the owner or driver in
any motor vehicle bearing a sign using the word "taxi," "taxicab,"
"cab" or "hack" shall be presumed, in the absence of evidence to the
contrary, to be "operation of a taxicab."
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 as 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.
No person shall operate or drive a taxicab or
cause any taxicab to be operated or driven in the township without
having first obtained a license for every operator and every vehicle
to be so operated.
Before the Township Committee shall issue any
license for a taxicab other than the renewal of an existing license,
it shall be satisfied that public convenience and necessity so require.
An applicant for a taxicab license shall be
the owner of the vehicle and must be at least 18 years of age. An
applicant for a taxicab driver's license must be at least 18
years of age. All applicants for licenses under the provisions of
this chapter shall be of good moral character.
Application for a license required by this chapter
shall be made to the Township Clerk upon forms provided by the Clerk
and shall contain the following information:
A. The name and address of the applicant; if the applicant
is a corporation, the name and address of its registered agent.
B. A description of the taxicab sought to be licensed,
including the type of motor vehicle, the name of the manufacturer,
serial number, license number and seating capacity.
C. Recommendations from at least two reputable citizens
of the Township of East Hanover.
The Township Committee shall, within 30 days
of the filing of the application, either grant or deny the license.
Applications shall be considered in the order in which they are received.
Each license shall expire on the 31st day of December following its issuance. The annual fee for a taxicab owner's license shall be as set out in Chapter
79, Fees and Licenses.
All taxicab drivers shall register with the Police Department and complete such registration forms and questionnaires as the Police Department may appropriately require. Registrants may be required by the Police Department to supply photographs of themselves and shall be fingerprinted if the Chief of Police determines that this is necessary for the identification of the registrant. The fee for registration shall be as set out in Chapter
79. Fees and Licenses. Registration shall be evidenced by a registration certificate, which shall be displayed in the taxicab at all times while the registrant is operating it.
If at any time, in the opinion of the Township
Committee, it becomes advisable, the Committee may adopt by resolution
a schedule of rates which may be charged by the owners or drivers
of taxicabs or other vehicles for the transportation of passengers,
as in its judgment may seem fair and reasonable.
Any person violating any provision of this chapter
shall, upon conviction thereof, be punished by a fine not exceeding
$500 or by imprisonment for a term not exceeding 90 days, or both.
A separate offense shall be deemed to be committed on each and every
occasion or day during or on which a violation occurs or continues.