As used in this article, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
TAXICAB
Includes any automobile or motorcar, commonly called "taxi,"
"autocab," "omnibus" or by whatever name or designation it may now
or hereafter be known or designated, engaging 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
of the City, and particularly accepts and discharges such persons
as may offer themselves for transportation from points or places within
the City upon the terms, provisions or conditions prescribed in this
chapter, or which is hired by charter or for a particular contract
or by the day or hour or other fixed period to transport passengers
to a specified place or places or which charges a fare or price agreed
upon, in advance, between the operator and the passenger. Nothing
contained in this section shall be construed to include any motor
vehicle, by whatever name or designation, used and employed solely
in transporting school children or teachers or autobuses which are
subject to the jurisdiction of the New Jersey State Public Utility
Commissioners of the Interstate Commerce Commission.
This article shall apply to any person who operates a taxicab
for hire.
In order to qualify for a taxicab driver's license, each
applicant therefor shall meet the following prerequisites:
A. He/She shall furnish satisfactory evidence that he/she has received
and is the holder of a current and existing driver's license
issued by the State of New Jersey.
B. He/She shall be of the age of 18 years or more.
C. He/She shall not have been convicted of any crime involving moral
turpitude.
D. He/She shall present the certificate of a reputable physician showing
that he/she has been examined within 60 days preceding the submission
of his/her application and that he/she is of sound physique with good
eyesight and not subject to epilepsy, vertigo, heart trouble or any
other infirmity of the body or mind which might render him/her unfit
for the safe operation of a taxicab. The Division of Inspections,
in its discretion, may, at any time after a driver's license
has been issued under this article, require the holder of the same
to submit to a physical examination and present a certificate of such
physician showing the nonexistence of the conditions above mentioned.
The certificate shall be required for renewal of a license on a yearly
basis.
[Amended 12-8-1983 by Ord. No. MC-1994]
E. He/She shall be able to read and write the English language.
F. He/She shall be clean in dress and person.
G. He/She shall not be addicted to the use of narcotics or intoxicating
liquors.
H. He/She shall not be a habitual violator of the motor vehicle laws
of New Jersey.
I. He/She shall state in the application the name of the holder of the
taxicab license issued pursuant to this chapter by whom he/she will
be employed.
No taxicab driver shall operate a taxicab unless such vehicle and vehicle owner are also licensed pursuant to Article
II of this chapter.
No licensed taxicab driver shall operate a taxicab owned by
a person other than the person named in the driver's application
and the taxicab license without first obtaining a transfer therefor
from the Division of Inspections, not to exceed three in any one year.
Each licensed taxicab driver shall, upon demand of the City
employee assigned by the Division of Inspections, exhibit his/her
license and photograph for inspection.
Any licensed taxicab driver who defaces, removes or obliterates any official entry made upon his/her license may be subject to the penalty provisions of Article
IV of this chapter and to the revocation or suspension of his/her license as set forth in §
485-24 of this Code.
Any change of address of any taxicab licensee or taxicab driver
licensed under this chapter shall be reported, in writing, to the
Division of Inspections office within 72 hours of such change.
The loss of the taxicab license or taxicab driver's license
shall be reported, in writing, by the licensee to the Division of
Inspections office within 24 hours of such loss.