[HISTORY: Adopted by the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Woodlynne 11-18-2010 by Ord. No. 2010-12. Amendments noted where applicable.]
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
PERSON
Includes any individual, partnership, association, corporation or joint-stock company and their lessees, trustees or receivers.
STREET
Includes any street, avenue, park, parkway, highway or other public place.
TAXICAB
Includes any automobile or motor car, commonly called a "taxi," 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 Borough of Woodlynne, and which particularly accepts and discharges such persons as may offer themselves for transportation from said Borough, provided that nothing herein contained shall be construed to affect any public conveyance which is by law subject to state and/or federal regulation exclusively. Limousines and limousine services are specifically excluded from this definition.
TAXIMETER
A mechanical instrument or device by which the charge for hire of a taxicab is mechanically calculated, either for the distance traveled or for waiting time, or for both, and upon which such charge shall be plainly indicated by the means of figures.
From and after the effective date of this chapter, no person shall operate any taxicab upon any street within the Borough of Woodlynne unless both the taxicab and the driver thereof are licensed pursuant to the terms of this chapter and conform to all the provisions hereof.
A. 
Every application for taxicab license shall be made to the Borough Council and shall set forth:
(1) 
The full name and address of the owner, lessee and/or bailee of the taxicab to be licensed.
(2) 
Make and model of each taxicab.
(3) 
Year of each taxicab.
(4) 
VIN number of each taxicab.
(5) 
Registration number and state vehicle is registered in.
(6) 
Expiration of registration of each vehicle.
(7) 
Color of each vehicle.
(8) 
Name and phone number on each vehicle.
(9) 
If the applicant is an individual or partnership, a statement as to whether or not the applicant or applicants have ever been convicted of a crime and, if so, the crime of which he or she has been convicted, the place of conviction, the date thereof and the punishment therefor.
(10) 
If the applicant is a corporation, the names and addresses of its officers, directors and stockholders and whether or not said officers, directors or stockholders have ever been convicted of a crime and, if so, the crime of which he or she has been convicted, the place of conviction, the date thereof and the punishment therefor.
B. 
Each application shall be accompanied by an annual license fee of $300 for each taxicab to be licensed.
C. 
As to any applicant for a license under this chapter, the Police Department of the Borough of Woodlynne shall, upon the initial application, conduct a full state background investigation. The appropriate police official shall report the results of such investigation to the Borough Council as soon as possible. With respect to subsequent renewals of the license, the Police Department shall conduct an investigation by name only for the purpose of the annual renewal of said application.
No taxicab license or taxicab driver's license shall be issued:
A. 
To an individual who has been convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude.
B. 
To a partnership where any partner has been convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude.
C. 
To a corporation where any of the officers, directors and stockholders thereof have been convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude.
No taxicab license shall be issued until the applicant therefor shall have filed with the Borough Clerk an insurance policy in accordance with N.J.S.A. 48:16-3 or N.J.S.A. 48:16-4.
No taxicab license shall be issued until the applicant therefor shall have delivered to the Borough Clerk a power of attorney in accordance with N.J.S.A. 48:16-5.
When the taxicab license shall be granted, there shall be issued in duplicate to the applicant a combination certificate of compliance (in accordance with N.J.S.A. 48:16-6) and license card in evidence thereof setting forth the license number, name of the licensee, name of the insurance company, the number and date of expiration of the insurance policy, vehicle description including the year, make and model of the taxicab licensed, together with the vehicle identification number and registration number of said vehicle. Said certificate of compliance/license card shall be signed by the Borough Clerk and shall at all times be prominently displayed and adequately protected in the interior of any taxicab so licensed so that the face thereof shall be at all times in full view and plainly legible to any passenger seated on the rear seat of such taxicab. There shall also be displayed in the interior of said taxicab so licensed a statement or schedule of the charges for the use thereof. Also issued will be one exterior decal per vehicle. The decal shall be prominently displayed on the exterior of the taxicab on the rear bumper or trunk lid so as to be readily recognizable from outside the cab.
Any taxicab license issued pursuant to this chapter may be transferred to another vehicle owned or in the custody of the same licensee upon the payment of a transfer fee of $15.
A. 
Every application for a taxicab driver's license shall be made to the Borough Clerk and shall set forth:
(1) 
The full name and address of the applicant.
(2) 
His or her age.
(3) 
Social security number.
(4) 
Whether or not he or she has ever been convicted of a crime and, if so, the crime of which he or she has been convicted, the place of conviction, the date thereof and the punishment therefor.
(5) 
Driver's license number and state.
(6) 
Date of birth.
B. 
No taxicab driver's license shall be issued to any person who shall be under 18 years of age.
C. 
Each applicant for a taxicab driver's license shall file with his or her application two photographs, approximately 1 1/2 inches by 1 1/2 inches, clearly depicting the facial features of the applicant, each of which photographs shall thereupon become the property of the Borough and shall be retained with the application form unless the application shall be granted and the license issued, in which event one of such photographs shall be permanently affixed to the license card issued to said taxicab driver and one shall be retained by the Borough Clerk. Each of said photographs shall be signed on the back thereof by the applicant and shall bear the date upon which they were taken, which date shall not be more than 30 days prior to the date of the application.
D. 
An annual license fee of $75 shall accompany each application for a taxicab driver's license.
E. 
As to any applicant for a license under this chapter, the Police Department of the Borough of Woodlynne shall, upon the initial application, conduct a full state background investigation. The appropriate police official shall report the results of such investigation to the Borough Council as soon as possible. With respect to subsequent renewals of the license, the Police Department shall conduct an investigation by name only for the purpose of the annual renewal of said application.
If the Chief of Police shall have determined from the aforesaid investigation that such applicant is qualified for and entitled to a taxicab driver's license pursuant to this chapter, the Chief shall endorse his or her approval on such application. A license card shall be issued by the Borough Clerk and shall at all times be kept in the driver's possession while operating the taxicab.
A. 
Every license issued pursuant to the terms of this chapter shall expire at midnight on the 31st day of December of the year in which it is issued unless sooner surrendered, suspended or revoked; provided, however, that if an application for a renewal shall have been filed on or before December 31, said taxicab may be operated and said driver may operate a taxicab, pending the issuance of a new license or licenses, until the 15th day of January next succeeding.
B. 
No license fee payable under this chapter shall be prorated nor shall any part thereof be refunded for any reason unless a license shall be refused.
C. 
A late renewal fee of $150 shall be charged per cab and $50 per driver for all renewals received after January 15 each year.
A. 
Taximeter. Every taxicab shall be equipped with a taximeter of an approved design and make.
B. 
Lettering. Every taxicab so licensed shall have painted on both sides thereof the words "taxi" or "cab" in letters at least three inches high or the name of the operating owner containing the words "taxi" or "cab" or "taxicab."
The Borough Council, after notice and hearing, may revoke or suspend any license issued pursuant to this chapter if the licensee:
A. 
Has been once convicted of a crime in this or any other jurisdiction or has been convicted of being a disorderly person.
B. 
Has made false answers in his, her or its application for such license or any renewal thereof.
C. 
Has failed or fails to render reasonably prompt, safe, proper and adequate taxicab service.
D. 
Has not complied fully with all the requirements of this chapter with respect to such license.
E. 
The taxicab licensed is dangerous to the safety or health of the occupants or others by reason of unsafe or insanitary conditions.
F. 
The licensed taxicab shall be used for any improper, immoral or illegal business or purpose.
G. 
Does not maintain valid driver's license, registration and/or insurance.
Any person violating any of the provisions of this chapter shall, upon conviction, be subject to one or more of the following: a fine not exceeding $1,250 or imprisonment in the county jail for a term not exceeding 90 days, or a period of community service not exceeding 90 days, in the discretion of the Municipal Court Judge.