For the purposes of this chapter, the following words and phrases
shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them by this section:
The practice of driving about the streets of the Township
with a taxicab so as to solicit passengers or to bring the presence
of the taxicab to the attention of prospective passengers. A taxicab
driving along the streets of this Township for any purpose other than
while transporting a passenger going to a definite destination by
the most direct route, in response to a call for a taxicab by a prospective
passenger or returning by the most direct route to the taxicab's
home, terminus or hack stand after discharging a passenger or going
to or from the said terminus or hack stand to the driver's home
by the direct route shall be prima facie evidence of cruising.
Any person who drives a taxicab or limousine within the Township.
The license to operate issued by the Township Clerk in accordance
with this chapter and N.J.S.A. 48:16-17.
The Township Clerk or other official as the Township Clerk
may designate.
Includes any automobile or motor car used in the business
of carrying passengers for hire to provide prearranged passenger transportation
at a premium fare on a dedicated, nonscheduled, charter basis that
is not conducted on a regular route and with a seating capacity of
not more than 14 passengers, not including the driver, provided that
such a vehicle is certified by the manufacturer of the original vehicle
and the second-stage manufacturer, if applicable, to conform to all
applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards promulgated by the
United States Department of Transportation pursuant to 49 CFR Part
571 (49 CFR 571.1 et seq.) and 49 CFR Part 567 (49 CFR 567.1 et seq.).
In addition, a vehicle emission control information label, which contains
the name and trademark of the manufacturer and an unconditional statement
of compliance with the emission requirements of the Environmental
Protection Agency, shall be present on the vehicle. Nothing in this
article contained shall be construed to include taxicabs, hotel buses,
buses employed solely in transporting school children or teachers,
vehicles owned and operated directly or indirectly by businesses engaged
in the practice of mortuary science when those vehicles are used exclusively
for providing transportation related to the provision of funeral services,
autobuses which are subject to the jurisdiction of the Department
of Transportation, or interstate autobuses required by the federal
or state law or regulations of the Department of Transportation to
carry insurance against loss from liability imposed by law on account
of bodily injury or death.
Includes the business of carrying passengers for hire by
limousines.
Transporting for hire in such taxicab one or more persons,
from a point within or without the Township to any other point within
the Township or from within the Township to a point outside of the
Township limits. The operation of a taxicab in either of the above-described
manners by one other than the owner shall be deemed operation by the
owner thereof as well as by the person actually driving the same.
The transportation of any person other than the owner or driver in
any motor vehicle bearing a sign therein or thereon using the words
"taxi," "taxicab," "cab" or "hack" shall be prima facie evidence of
operation.
Any person, corporation or association in whose name title
to any taxicab or limousine is registered with the New Jersey Department
of Motor Vehicles or who appears in such records to be the conditional
vendee or lessee thereof, and who maintains its principal office for
such taxicab or limousine service within Franklin Township and who
maintains continuous telephone accommodations where he or his agent
can be readily reached.
Includes any individual, copartnership, association, corporation
or joint stock company, their lessees, trustees or receivers appointed
by any court whatsoever.
In reference to a municipality, the location of the main
place of business of the taxicab or limousine service in the municipality
where the taxicab or limousine service is conducted, where taxicabs
or limousines are dispatched, or where taxicab or limousine drivers
report for duty.
Includes any street, avenue, park, parkway, highway or other
public place.
Any automobile or motor car 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
within the Township and which accepts passengers for transportation
from points or places to points or places within or without the Township
for an agreed-upon fare or price.
A letter of consent, for the purpose of motor vehicle registration,
will be issued by the Township after submission of the appropriate
application to the Township Clerk. The issuance of the letter of consent
shall not be construed as the issuance of any license by the Township.
Every applicant for a Township license issued under this chapter
shall pay the applicable fee to the Township Clerk at the time the
application is submitted. Fees submitted to the Township Clerk in
connection with an application for any license issued pursuant to
this chapter shall not be refundable.
A.
Limousine owner's license: $250 per year or portion of a year
for which the license is issued or renewed.
C.
Taxicab owner's license numbers one through five: $250 per year
or portion of a year for which the license is issued or renewed.
D.
Taxicab owner's license numbers six and over: as determined
by auction.
E.
Taxicab vehicle fee: $100 per vehicle per year.
F.
Taxicab owner annual inspection: $50 per vehicle.
G.
Consent letter fee: $25.
H.
License replacement fee: $10.
I.
Late fee: $25.
No license issued under this chapter shall be transferable or
assignable.
The smoking of tobacco shall not be permitted in any taxicab
or limousine licensed by the Township during the operation of such
vehicles. The prohibition shall be conspicuously posted in each vehicle
for hire.
A.
The licensing official shall have power to suspend or revoke an operating
license under any of the following provisions:
(1)
The licensing official may revoke any license of either class if
the applicant for the license has been once convicted of a crime in
this or any other jurisdiction, or convicted of being a disorderly
person or of a violation of Title 39, Motor Vehicles and Traffic Regulations,
of the Revised Statutes, or who consistently violates any provision
of this chapter or has any judgment unsatisfied or 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
(2)
The licensing official may suspend:
(a)
Any taxicab driver's license, if the licensee or applicant
has in any degree contributed to any injury to person or damage to
property arising out of negligent operation of a motor vehicle; or
has any communicable or contagious disease; or
(b)
Any taxicab or limousine owner's license if the policy
of insurance required herein has lapsed, or if such coverage is not
maintained at all times. Such suspension shall be for a period not
to exceed 30 days.
B.
Within 10 days of the date of the suspension or revocation, an appeal
from any such suspension or revocation may be made to the Township
Manager who shall forthwith schedule a hearing on the appeal. The
Township Manager shall render his decision within two days after completion
of the hearing.
