Township of Plainsboro, NJ Article II Taxis

§ 96A-8 Taxi owner's licenses.

A. No persons shall own or operate a taxi in the Township of Plainsboro without first obtaining a taxi owner's license from the Township Clerk after the submission and approval of the application by the Township Clerk and Chief of Police or their respective designee in accordance with the regulations and procedures set forth in this chapter and the payment of all applicable fees.

B. The number of licenses authorized by the Township shall be 25; however, the Township shall not be required to issue all authorized licenses. Each license issued hereunder shall expire on the following March 31. Fees shall not be prorated.

C. If the Township determines to issue a new license(s), the license shall be issued to the highest qualified bidder at a sale by public auction in conformance with statutory requirements for such auction.

§ 96A-9 Application requirements for new or renewal taxi owner's licenses.

Each applicant for a new or renewal taxi owner's license shall submit the following information to the Township Clerk on the approved form:

A. Name of the applicant, the principal place of business and any branch office locations.

(1) If an individual, the applicant must be at least 21 years of age and provide his or her present primary residential address.

(2) If a corporation, the state of incorporation; the names and primary residential addresses of all officers and directors; and a list of all stockholders who hold more than 10% of the corporate stock.

(3) If a partnership, the names and primary residential addresses of each partner.

B. The location of the dispatcher.

C. Whether previously licensed to operate a vehicle for hire and where; whether such license to operate has ever been revoked, and if so, for what cause.

D. Every application shall contain the following information about each vehicle to be licensed:

(1) Year, make, model and color.

(2) Vehicle identification number.

(3) New Jersey State license plate number.

(4) Passenger capacity.

(5) Insurance company, policy number and expiration date.

(6) The location at which the vehicles will be stored.

E. File with the Township Clerk an insurance policy of a company duly licensed to transact business in the State of New Jersey with the following minimum amounts of coverage:

(1) Personal injury, uninsured motorist and underinsured motorist coverage for one person, $100,000; for more than one person, $300,000. Each such certificate of insurance shall identify the coverages provided and shall provide that such insurance shall not be changed or canceled without giving 10 days' prior written notice to the Township by certified mail, return receipt requested. Specific reference to the contract shall be made in all policies of insurance.

(2) Property damage: $50,000.

F. Submit an executed power of attorney to the Township Clerk, concurrent with the filing of a certificate of insurance. The power of attorney shall appoint the Township Clerk as the owner's true and lawful attorney for the purpose of acknowledging service of any process out of a court of competent jurisdiction to be served against the owner.

G. Any application for a new or renewal license which is not completed, including the inspection of all vehicles to be licensed, within 60 days from the receipt of the application because of the inaction or nonresponsiveness of the owner/applicant shall be denied and no license shall be issued.

§ 96A-10 Renewal of taxi owner's licenses.

The taxi owner's license shall be renewed from year to year. The applicant shall file an application for a renewal taxi owner's license not less than 30 days preceding the expiration date.

§ 96A-11 Vehicle inspection.

No license shall be issued or renewed until a thorough and careful examination and inspection has been performed by the Township Police Department of all vehicles listed on the application. Said inspection of the vehicle shall be at a date and time determined by the Township Police Department. The applicant's failure to appear after three scheduled inspections shall result in a failed inspection. Such inspection shall be made and approval given prior to issuance of an owner's license.

§ 96A-12 Vehicle identification.

After inspection, the identifying information for each taxi shall be entered into the Plainsboro Township Police Department Info Cop computer system with the wording "Plainsboro Licensed Taxi" and the expiration date of the taxi license. This will allow the taxi license to be checked for validity, via a license plate inquiry into the Info Cop system, by the patrol officers. Each taxi will also be issued vehicle identification stickers which must be affixed to the taxi as follows:

A. The taxi license number shall be displayed on the center of the rear quarter panels of the driver and passenger sides of the car and the rear center line of the vehicle trunk.

B. The name of the municipality issuing the taxi license shall be displayed on the rear door of the driver and passenger sides of the car.

§ 96A-13 Application requirements for new or renewal taxi driver's licenses.

No taxi shall be driven or operated by any person who is not the holder of a taxi driver's license duly issued under the provisions of this chapter. Each applicant for a new or renewal taxi driver's license shall submit the following information to the Township Clerk on the approved form:

A. A driver must be at least 21 years of age.

B. A driver must hold a valid driver's license and provide his or her driver's license number and expiration date.

C. The legal name of the applicant and any other names ever used or known by.

D. Present primary residential address.

E. Date of birth, age, weight, height, color of eyes and hair, and social security number.

F. An authorization from the owner of the taxi the applicant intends to operate.

G. Every applicant must submit to a criminal history record background check and a motor vehicle driving record abstract check as directed by the Township Police Department. The Chief of Police or designee shall make a recommendation to the Clerk, prior to the issuance of the taxi driver's license, as to the findings of the background investigation. The applicant shall bear all costs associated with the criminal history record background check and a motor vehicle driving record abstract check.

H. Any additional information requested by either the Chief of Police or his designee.

I. Any application for a new or renewal license which is not completed within 60 days from the receipt of the application shall be denied and no license shall be issued.

§ 96A-14 Renewal of taxi driver's licenses.

The taxi driver's license shall be renewed from year to year. The applicant shall file an application for a renewal driver's license not less than 30 days next preceding the expiration date.