For the purposes of this chapter, the following words and phrases
shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them by this section:
A vehicle operated upon the streets of the City as a carrier
of passengers for hire, to such destination as directed by them.
A section of a public street or public place set apart for
the exclusive use of a limited number of public hacks or taxicabs,
when such section is distinctly marked as such by a metal sign attached
to a stanchion on the curb or other conspicuous place or by clearly
visible marks upon the surface of the street or public place.
A.
The licensing of taxicabs, public hacks and drivers as provided in
this chapter shall be administered by the Planning Department. The
inspecting of taxicabs and public hacks and examining of applicants
for licenses to drive taxicabs and public hacks shall be under the
supervision and control of the Police Department.
B.
The Police Department shall maintain constant vigilance over all
taxicabs and public hacks and see that they are kept in a condition
of continued fitness for public use; and to this end, its officers
and inspectors shall inspect all taxicabs and public hacks on the
complaint of any citizens or from time to time as it may deem necessary
or convenient.
A.
The driver of a taxicab or public hack shall not seek employment
by repeatedly and persistently driving his vehicle to and from in
a short space before, or by otherwise interfering with the proper
and orderly access to or egress from, any theater, hall, hotel, public
resort or railway station or other place of public gathering; but
any such driver may solicit employment by driving through any public
street or place without stops, other than those due to obstruction
of traffic, and at such speed as not to interfere with or impede traffic,
and may pass and repass before any theater, hall, hotel, public resort
or railway station or other place of public gathering, provided that
after passing such public place he shall not turn and repass until
he shall have gone a distance of one (1) block upon the streets and
highways of the City. No person shall solicit passengers for a taxicab
or public hack, except the driver thereof, when sitting upon the driver's
seat of his vehicle.
B.
No person shall be allowed to ride on the front seat with the driver.
C.
No washing or repairing of taxicabs or public hacks shall take place
upon the public streets, avenues or thoroughfares within the City.
Every driver of taxicab or public hack shall have the right
to demand payment of the legal fare in advance and may refuse employment
unless it be prepaid, but no driver of a public hack shall otherwise
refuse or neglect to convey any orderly person upon request anywhere
in the City, unless previously engaged or unable to do so. No driver
shall carry any other person than the passenger first employing the
taxicab or hack without the consent of the passenger.
All disputes as to fares for taxicabs or public hacks shall
be determined by the officer in charge of the police station, and
both passenger and driver shall comply with such determination.
The rate schedule shall be filed and approved.
A.
Licenses issued pursuant to the provisions of this chapter may be
revoked or suspended by action of the Director of the Planning Department
whenever he shall find that the licensee or any agent, servant or
employee of such licensee has violated the provisions of this chapter
or permitted the same to be violated, provided that no such license
shall be revoked or suspended unless charges, in writing, have first
been filed with the City Clerk, setting forth with reasonable certainty
the nature of such charges against the licensee. Upon the filing of
charges, the Director shall fix a time and place for the hearing of
such charges, and a copy of the charges, as filed, together with notice
of the time and place of hearing, shall be served upon the licensee
at least five (5) days prior to the date fixed by the Director for
the hearing, provided that any vehicle licensed pursuant to the provisions
of this chapter shall be banned and prohibited from operating upon
the streets of the City in the event that the insurance policy required
under the provisions of N.J.S.A. 48:16-3 has lapsed or expired, in
which case it shall not be necessary to have charges preferred, in
writing, against the licensee in accordance with the provisions of
this section.
B.
Every license issued under the provisions of this chapter shall state
in substance that such license is issued in consideration of the fees
paid therefor and the right of the Director of the Finance Department
to revoke or suspend such license, pursuant to the provisions of this
chapter.
C.
Upon revocation of any license for cause, the unearned portion of
the license fee shall be retained by the City and shall not be returned
to the licensee.
D.
Any notice provided for in this section shall be served, either by
delivering a copy personally to the licensee or by leaving a copy
with some person of suitable age and discretion at the place of business
of the licensee or, if no such person is found at the place of business
of the licensee, by leaving such notice in a conspicuous place on
the premises and mailing a copy of the notice to the licensee at his
place of business as set forth in his application for a license. At
the hearing on such charges, the licensee shall have the right to
appear and defend the charges and, if he so desires, to be represented
by counsel.
