[HISTORY: Adopted by the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Somerdale as Ch. 100 of the 1973 Code. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Fees — See Ch. 131.
Towing — See Ch. 240.
Vehicles and traffic — See Ch. 247.
[Amended 3-11-1992 by Ord. No. 92:05]
No person, firm or corporation shall hire out, keep or use for hire or pay or cause to be kept for use or hire or pay any vehicle commonly known as a "taxicab" or "limousine" within the territorial limits of the Borough of Somerdale, in the County of Camden, without first having obtained a license for that purpose. By definition, whenever the term "taxicab" shall be hereafter used in this chapter, it shall also mean "limousine," "limo," or "cab" or any other similar private-vehicle-for-hire situation.
Applications for a license to operate a taxicab or taxicabs shall be made by the owner, lessee or bailee upon a form to be furnished by the Borough Clerk or his agent. Such applications shall contain the full name and address of the applicant, the year, type and model of the vehicle for which the license is desired and the number of persons the vehicle will accommodate with a minimum of four passengers and a maximum of eight passengers.
[Amended 9-12-1990 by Ord. No. 90:09]
The license fee for each taxicab shall be the sum as set forth in the Fee Ordinance under annual individual taxicab license fee for each year beginning the first day of January thereof or any part of a year, which fee shall not be apportioned and is imposed for the purpose of regulation. The fee for a fleet license (four or more taxicabs) shall be as set forth in the Fee Ordinance for annual fleet taxicab license fee.
No license shall be issued for a taxicab unless it has been inspected and examined pursuant to the statutes of the State of New Jersey requiring inspections of any said vehicles, and it must be in a safe condition and maintained in a safe condition for the transportation of passengers, and the applicant must obtain approval of the Mayor and Council.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Former § 100-5, Number of licenses issued, which immediately followed this section, was repealed 9-12-1990 by Ord. No. 90:09.
Upon approval and granting of a license to operate a taxicab by the Mayor and Council, the Borough Clerk or his agent shall provide a license containing the name of the licensee and the number of the license, which shall be prominently exhibited in any taxicab licensed.
No owner, licensee or bailee of a licensed taxicab shall sell, lease, rent, assign, transfer or in any manner whatever dispose of a taxicab license without first receiving approval and permission from the Mayor and Council.
[Amended 9-12-1990 by Ord. No. 90:09]
No license shall be issued until the applicant shall deliver to the Borough Clerk a certificate of insurance, and said certificate shall show that the applicant has insurance in the sum of $300,000 liability for one person and $500,000 liability for any and all persons and shall have $50,000 property damage liability.
In the event that the insurance provided for in § 236-7 is canceled or revoked for any reason whatsoever, the license shall forthwith be revoked by the Borough Clerk or his duly designated agent.
The Borough Clerk shall keep a register of the name of each person owning or operating a vehicle or vehicles licensed under this chapter.
[Amended 9-12-1990 by Ord. No. 90:09]
The initial license fee and renewal fee for a driver of a taxicab shall be as set forth in the Fee Ordinance for each year or part thereof. The fee herein fixed for the issuance is imposed for regulation.
No application for a taxicab driver's license under the terms of this chapter shall be issued unless the applicant:
A. 
Is 18 years of age or older.
B. 
Presents a certificate of a duly licensed and qualified physician, certifying that the applicant has been examined and that he is of sound physical condition.
C. 
Is not a known addict of drugs or user of intoxicating liquors.
D. 
Has not been convicted of a crime prior to the issuance of the license.
E. 
Submits four photographs, front view, two by two inches.
F. 
Submits proof that the applicant has been fingerprinted by the Police at Somerdale, New Jersey, or submits proof that the applicant has been fingerprinted and approved in the County of Camden.
Taxi stands shall be subject to approval and designation by the Mayor and Council and shall provide for off-street parking, and said taxi stands, telephones, radios or other communication for said taxi stands shall be in commercial areas only.
Every driver of a taxicab who shall discover any property lost or left in said taxicab must report to the Somerdale police at the Borough Hall on Somerdale and Post Roads, Somerdale, New Jersey, with brief particulars and a description of the property within 24 hours after his finding thereof, unless sooner claimed or delivered to the owner.
[Amended 9-12-1990 by Ord. No. 90:09]
Every taxicab shall have a permanent taxicab sign and be plainly marked as a taxicab, and said taxicab sign shall be approved by the Mayor and Council or its designated agent and shall be in operation when said taxicab is commercially employed. Every taxicab shall have on both sides of the taxicab the name of the taxi company, the taxicab number and the telephone number of said taxicab company.
A decal, to be provided by the Borough Clerk, shall be placed on the lower right-hand corner of the trunk of the taxicab.
Every taxicab shall conveniently display a valid license for the vehicle, a valid license for the driver with a front-view photograph and the valid insurance card issued in compliance with § 236-7 of this chapter and the rate schedules of fares to be charged by said taxicab company.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Former § 100-19, Age of vehicle limited, when immediately followed this section, was repealed 9-12-1990 by Ord. No. 90:09.
[Amended 9-12-1990 by Ord. No. 90:09]
The Mayor and Council of the Borough of Somerdale or its designated agent may, in its discretion, refuse to issue or renew or may, after notice and hearing, revoke or suspend any license of either class if the applicant or licensee, within two years next preceding the filing of an application hereunder or who, having obtained a license, while said license is in effect hereunder, has been or is convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude in this or any other jurisdiction or of reckless driving or whose driving privileges have been revoked in this or any other state or who violates any provision of this chapter or has any judgment unsatisfied of record against him arising out of an automobile accident or who has failed or fails to render reasonable, prompt, safe and adequate taxicab service or who has not complied fully with the requirements of this chapter for such class of license.
A. 
The following rates, which will be charged passengers of taxicabs, shall be filed with the Clerk of the Borough, and he shall be notified of any change in the rates at least 30 days before such change shall become effective:
(1) 
Rate for the first mile and each additional mile or portion thereof.
(2) 
Rate for waiting time.
(3) 
Any additional rate for service not covered above.
B. 
All taxicabs shall be equipped with and be required to use taximeters.
[Amended 9-12-1990 by Ord. No. 90:09]
Any person who violates any provision of this chapter shall, upon conviction thereof, be subject to any combination of the following:
A. 
A fine of not less than $100 nor more than one $1,000.
B. 
A term of imprisonment not exceeding 90 days.
C. 
A period of community service not exceeding 90 days.