[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee of the Township of Lacey 5-17-1974 as Ch. 96 of the 1974 Code. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Vehicles and traffic — See Ch. 323.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
TAXICAB
Includes any automobile or motorcar engaged in the business of carrying passengers for hire upon the streets of the township to points or places within or without the township, whether hired or engaged from a garage or from any taxi stand or other place in the township.
[Amended 7-11-1996 by Ord. No. 96-36]
The applicable provisions of N.J.S.A. 48:16-1 et seq. of the Revised Statutes, as amended and supplemented, shall be complied with in the licensing and regulating of taxicabs under this chapter. No license shall be issued under this chapter until the insurance required under N.J.S.A. 48:16-3 or 48:16-4 has been obtained and produced in accordance with said statutory sections.
[Amended 7-11-1996 by Ord. No. 96-36]
Any person wishing to operate a taxicab or own a taxicab for the purpose of operating the taxicab or to permit another person to operate said taxicab must obtain a license in accordance with the provisions of N.J.S.A. 48:16-1 et seq. and the provisions of this chapter.
[Amended 7-11-1996 by Ord. No. 96-36]
No license shall be issued under this chapter unless the application for such license has been submitted to the Township Committee. Any applicant shall be investigated by the Chief of Police and fingerprinted and photographed. A complete report of said investigation shall be submitted to the Township Committee for its review and consideration.
A. 
All licenses shall be numbered consecutively and classified according to whether the licensee is an owner or operator of a taxicab. All licenses shall expire on December 31 of the year of issuance. Licenses not suspended or revoked may be renewed annually, subject to review by the Township Committee if deemed necessary pursuant to any reports of violations or incidents which may have occurred in the previous year. Every license shall contain the following:
[Amended 7-11-1996 by Ord. No. 96-36]
(1) 
The purpose of the license.
(2) 
The number of the license.
(3) 
The name and address of the licensee.
(4) 
Every owner's license shall also include the character and description of the vehicle.
B. 
The Township Clerk shall keep a register of all licenses granted, which register shall contain the details required by this section.
[Amended 7-11-1996 by Ord. No. 96-36; 2-11-2010 by Ord. No. 2010-04]
License fees in the following amounts shall be paid to the Clerk, who shall deliver the same to the Chief Financial Officer:
A. 
For each owner's license for a taxicab: an annual fee of $150.
B. 
For each operator of a licensed taxicab, whether or not the owner thereof: $20.
C. 
For each additional car: $25.
[Amended 7-11-1996 by Ord. No. 96-36]
No owner's license shall be issued unless the taxicab shall be in such a condition, mechanical and otherwise, as to render it fit, safe and appropriate for the comfortable and decent transportation of passengers. Failure to maintain a taxicab in a fit, safe and appropriate mechanical and interior condition shall be a violation of this chapter.
A. 
Every operator, whether owner or otherwise, shall be supplied a badge containing the number of the license, which he or she shall wear in a conspicuous place upon his or her person while operating such taxicab.
[Amended 7-11-1996 by Ord. No. 96-36]
B. 
Every owner and operator shall display the owner's license in a conspicuous place in the taxicab licensed.
No owner or operator of any taxicab, while waiting for employment at any place other than the garage or residence of the owner thereof, shall refuse conveyance to any person without just cause.
The Township Committee may, by resolution, designate public stands for taxicabs licensed under this chapter. The Chief of Police or such other police officer as may be designated for that purpose shall regulate and preserve order at such public stands. Any owner or operator who shall fail, neglect or refuse to obey the directions of such police officer shall be guilty of a violation of this chapter.
No operator shall permit any person or persons other than the person or persons first employing the taxicab to occupy or ride in said taxicab unless the person or persons first employing the taxicab shall consent to the acceptance of such additional passenger or passengers.
[Amended 7-11-1996 by Ord. No. 96-36]
Each passenger shall be entitled to have carried and conveyed upon any licensed taxicab, without charge, his or her ordinary traveling baggage.
Every owner's or operator's license granted hereunder may be suspended or revoked by the Township Committee, after notice and hearing, for the violation of any of the provisions of this chapter, or of the statutory provisions incorporated in § 305-2 hereof, or for other good and sufficient cause. During said suspension and after revocation, the license shall be inoperative and of no effect and the license shall be surrendered to the township forthwith, along with the badge supplied by the township pursuant to § 305-8 hereof.
[Amended 7-11-1996 by Ord. No. 96-36]
Any person violating or failing to comply with any of the provisions of this chapter shall, upon conviction thereof, be punishable by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000.), by imprisonment for a term not to exceed ninety (90) days and/or by a period of community service not to exceed ninety (90) days, in the discretion of the Judge. The continuation of such violation for each successive day shall constitute a separate offense, and the person or persons allowing or permitting the continuation of the violation may be punished as provided above for each separate offense.