A.
Applications for licenses for taxicab vehicles and public hacks shall
be made by the owner of the company license upon application forms
provided by the Director of the Planning Department. Such applications
shall contain the following information.
(1)
Name and address of the applicant and, where the applicant is not
a natural person, the name and address of all owners or participants
in ownership of the legal entity and all officers, directors or others
in like position, whatever their title is.
(2)
The year, type and model of the vehicle for which the license is
desired.
(3)
The number of persons the vehicle is capable of carrying.
(4)
Such further information as the Planning Director may require.
(5)
No taxicab vehicle license or public hack shall be licensed by the
Planning Department until it has been thoroughly and carefully inspected
and examined by the Police Department and found to be in a thoroughly
safe condition for transportation of passengers; clean, fit and well-painted.
(6)
The owner of the taxicab issued license must file with the Planning
Director an insurance policy by an admitted insurance company. The
policy must satisfy all claims for damages, by reason of bodily injury
or death of, any person(s), or damages to property resulting from
or on account of the accident by reason of the ownership, operation,
maintenance or use of such taxi upon any public street. The policy
must provide the greater of:
Not less than $35,000. of motor vehicle liability insurance
coverage or the amount required by N.J.S.A. 39:6B-1, as it may be
amended, maintenance of vehicle liability insurance coverage for example
N.J.S.A. 39:6B-1 currently requires coverage shall be at least in:
(1) an amount or limit of $15,000., exclusive of interest and costs,
on account of injury to, or death of, one person, in any one accident;
and (2) an amount or limit, subject to such limit for any one person
so injured or killed, of $30,000. exclusive of interest and costs,
on account of injury to or death of, more than one person, in any
one accident; and (3) an amount or limit of $5,000., exclusive of
interest and costs, for damage to property in any on accident. The
owner of the taxicab may, at their discretion, obtain additional motor
vehicle liability insurance coverage from a company licensed outside
New Jersey.
A.
The Director of the Police Department may establish such additional
rules and regulations not provided for in the Article which may be
necessary for the proper and careful inspection of taxicabs and public
hacks and their appurtenances, construction and condition of fitness.
The annual license fee under this Article shall be as follows:
B.
Licenses issued pursuant to the provisions of this Article are not
transferable. Surrender of licenses issued pursuant to the provisions
of this Article shall not entitle the holder thereof to reimbursement
for any unearned pro rata portion thereof.
C.
The fee fixed for the issuance of such license is imposed for purposes
of regulations.
If upon inspection a taxicab vehicle or public hack is found
to be of lawful construction and in proper condition, in accordance
with the Article, upon payment of the proper fee therefor a license
as provided for in this Article shall be issued by the Director of
the Planning Department. Such license, if issued, shall be for the
calendar year and shall expire December 31 of the year issued, unless
suspended or revoked prior thereto as provided in this chapter.
Licenses under this Article shall be issued by delivering to
the owner a card of such size and form as may be prescribed by the
Director of the Planning Department. The card shall contain the official
license number of the taxicab or public hack, together with the date
of inspection of the same, and a statement to the effect that, in
case of any complaint, the Director of the Planning Department shall
be notified, giving the license number of the taxicab or public hack.
Such card shall be signed by the Director of the Planning Department
and shall contain a blank space upon which an entry shall be made
of the date of every inspection of the vehicle by the inspector.
All taxicabs shall display on the body of the vehicle their
taxi licenses number along with each municipality that has issued
a taxi license to that taxicab. The information shall be three (3)
inches in height. The taxi license number must be located on the center
rear quarter panel on the driver and passenger side as well as the
rear center line of the trunk. The list of each municipality shall
be displayed on each rear door.
The Planning Department shall keep a register of the name of
each person owning or operating a taxicab or public hack licensed
under this chapter, together with the license number and the description,
make and necessary dimensions of such vehicle, with the date and complete
record of inspections made. Such records shall be open to the inspection
of the public at all reasonable times and shall be public records.
Every person driving a taxicab or public hack shall be licensed
as such.
A.
Each operator/driver applicant for a new operator's license
under this Article shall meet the following requirements and/or submit
the following:
(1)
Be of the age of twenty-one (21) years or over.
(2)
Be of sound physique, with good eyesight and not subject to or any
other infirmity of body or mind which might render them unfit for
the safe operation of a taxicab or public hack.
(3)
Be able to communicate in the English language.
(4)
Be clean of dress with the company's name visible on the shirt,
and not be addicted to the use of intoxicating liquors or controlled
dangerous substance.
(5)
Produce, on forms to be provided by the Department of Planning, affidavits
of his/her good character from two (2) reputable residents of the
United States who have known him/her personally and observed his/her
conduct during one (1) year next preceding the date of his application,
and a further affidavit, on a form provided for that purpose by the
Department of Planning, from his/her last employer, unless in the
estimation of the Director of the Police Department sufficient reason
is given for its omission.
(6)
Provide a valid driver's license issued by the State of New
Jersey.
(7)
Provide a copy of the driver's Motor Vehicle Abstract issued
by State of New Jersey within ten (10) days of the license application.
(8)
A written criminal background report issued by the New Jersey State
Police.
B.
An application for a driver's license shall be filed with the
Director of the Planning Department upon forms provided by the City.
The application shall contain the following information:
(1)
Name and address of the applicant.
(2)
Places of residence for the preceding five (5) years.
(3)
Age, height, color of eyes and color of hair.
(4)
Place of birth.
(5)
Previous employment and employer.
(6)
Marital status.
(7)
Whether the applicant has ever been convicted of a disorderly persons
offense or a felony in New Jersey, or a misdemeanor, or felony or
their equivalent in any other state or federal jurisdiction.
(8)
Whether a driver's license issued by any state has been suspended
and for what cause.
(9)
Such application shall be signed and sworn to by the applicant.
C.
The number of operator's licenses issued to any one licensed
taxicab company, and in use in the City at any one time shall not
exceed twelve (12).
D.
The operator/driver shall be disqualified from operating or driving
a taxi if his/her criminal history record background check reveals
a record of conviction of any of the following crimes or their equivalent
in other jurisdiction:
Aggravated assault
Arson
Burglary
Escape
Extortion
Homicide
Kidnapping
Robbery
Aggravated Sexual Assault
Sexual Assault
Endangering the welfare of a child pursuant to N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4
Crime pursuant to the provisions of N.J.S.A. 2C:39-3, 2C39-4
or 2C:39-9
Other than a disorderly persons or petty disorderly persons
offense for the unlawful use, possession or sale of a controlled dangerous
substance as defined in N.J.S.A. 2c-35-2
If a person who has been convicted of one of the crimes listed
above can produce a certificate of rehabilitation, the criminal offense
shall not disqualify the applicant from operating or driving a taxicab.
The Director of the Planning Department shall, in his discretion,
approve or deny the issuance of a license under this Article. In the
event that he approves the issuance of such license, he shall issue
the same in his official capacity and in such form as to contain the
photograph and signature of the licensee and blank spaces upon which
a record may be made of any arrest of or serious complaint against
him. All licensed taxicab operators must display approved license
with a photograph in the taxicab where it is visible by all occupants.
Any licensee who defaces, removes or obliterates any official entry
made upon his license shall be punished by the revocation of his license
in the manner provided in this Article. Drivers' licenses shall
be issued for the calendar year and expire on December 31 of the year
of issue.
There shall be delivered to each licensed driver a placard,
of such form and style as the Director of the Planning Department
may prescribe, with his license number thereon, which shall, under
penalty of revocation of the license, be constantly and conspicuously
displayed on the outside of the driver's clothing when he is
engaged in his employment.
A driver's license may be renewed from year to year by
appropriate endorsement thereon by direction of the Director of the
Planning Department. A driver in applying for a renewal of his license
shall make such application upon a form to be furnished by the Planning
Department, which shall be filled out with the full name and address
of the applicant, together with a statement of the date upon which
his original license was granted and the number thereof.
The annual license fee for a driver's license shall be as provided in Chapter 88, Fees, for each driver's license issued by the Director of the Planning Department. Such licenses shall not be transferable. The fee hereby fixed for the issuance of such licenses is imposed for purposes of regulation.
There shall be kept by the Planning Department a complete record
of each license issued to a driver under this Article and of all renewals,
suspensions and revocations thereof, which record shall be kept on
file with the original application for a license.
