For the purposes of this chapter, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them by this section:
CRUISING
The practice of driving about the streets of the Township with a taxicab so as to solicit passengers or to bring the presence of the taxicab to the attention of prospective passengers. A taxicab driving along the streets of this Township for any purpose other than while transporting a passenger going to a definite destination by the most direct route, in response to a call for a taxicab by a prospective passenger or returning by the most direct route to the taxicab's home, terminus or hack stand after discharging a passenger or going to or from the said terminus or hack stand to the driver's home by the direct route shall be prima facie evidence of cruising.
DRIVER
Any person who drives a taxicab or limousine within the Township.
LICENSE
The license to operate issued by the Township Clerk in accordance with this chapter and N.J.S.A. 48:16-17.
LICENSING OFFICIAL
The Township Clerk or other official as the Township Clerk may designate.
LIMOUSINE
Includes any automobile or motor car used in the business of carrying passengers for hire to provide prearranged passenger transportation at a premium fare on a dedicated, nonscheduled, charter basis that is not conducted on a regular route and with a seating capacity of not more than 14 passengers, not including the driver, provided that such a vehicle is certified by the manufacturer of the original vehicle and the second-stage manufacturer, if applicable, to conform to all applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards promulgated by the United States Department of Transportation pursuant to 49 CFR Part 571 (49 CFR 571.1 et seq.) and 49 CFR Part 567 (49 CFR 567.1 et seq.). In addition, a vehicle emission control information label, which contains the name and trademark of the manufacturer and an unconditional statement of compliance with the emission requirements of the Environmental Protection Agency, shall be present on the vehicle. Nothing in this article contained shall be construed to include taxicabs, hotel buses, buses employed solely in transporting school children or teachers, vehicles owned and operated directly or indirectly by businesses engaged in the practice of mortuary science when those vehicles are used exclusively for providing transportation related to the provision of funeral services, autobuses which are subject to the jurisdiction of the Department of Transportation, or interstate autobuses required by the federal or state law or regulations of the Department of Transportation to carry insurance against loss from liability imposed by law on account of bodily injury or death.
LIMOUSINE SERVICE or LIVERY SERVICE
Includes the business of carrying passengers for hire by limousines.
OPERATION
Transporting for hire in such taxicab one or more persons, from a point within or without the Township to any other point within the Township or from within the Township to a point outside of the Township limits. The operation of a taxicab in either of the above-described manners by one other than the owner shall be deemed operation by the owner thereof as well as by the person actually driving the same. The transportation of any person other than the owner or driver in any motor vehicle bearing a sign therein or thereon using the words "taxi," "taxicab," "cab" or "hack" shall be prima facie evidence of operation.
OWNER
Any person, corporation or association in whose name title to any taxicab or limousine is registered with the New Jersey Department of Motor Vehicles or who appears in such records to be the conditional vendee or lessee thereof, and who maintains its principal office for such taxicab or limousine service within Franklin Township and who maintains continuous telephone accommodations where they or their agent can be readily reached.
PERSON
Includes any individual, copartnership, association, corporation or joint stock company, their lessees, trustees or receivers appointed by any court whatsoever.
PRINCIPAL PLACE OF BUSINESS
In reference to a municipality, the location of the main place of business of the taxicab or limousine service in the municipality where the taxicab or limousine service is conducted, where taxicabs or limousines are dispatched, or where taxicab or limousine drivers report for duty.
STREET
Includes any street, avenue, park, parkway, highway or other public place.
TAXICAB
Any automobile or motor car 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 Township and which accepts passengers for transportation from points or places to points or places within or without the Township for an agreed-upon fare or price.
A letter of consent, for the purpose of motor vehicle registration, will be issued by the Township after submission of the appropriate application to the Township Clerk. The issuance of the letter of consent shall not be construed as the issuance of any license by the Township.
Every applicant for a Township license issued under this chapter shall pay the applicable fee to the Township Clerk at the time the application is submitted. Fees submitted to the Township Clerk in connection with an application for any license issued pursuant to this chapter shall not be refundable.
A. 
Limousine owner's license: $250 per year or portion of a year for which the license is issued or renewed.
B. 
(Reserved)[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Former Subsection B, Limousine vehicle fee, was repealed 11-26-2013 by Ord. No. 4043-13.
C. 
Taxicab owner's license numbers one through five: $250 per year or portion of a year for which the license is issued or renewed.
D. 
Taxicab owner's license numbers six and over: as determined by auction.
E. 
Taxicab vehicle fee: $100 per vehicle per year.
F. 
Taxicab owner annual inspection: $50 per vehicle.
G. 
Consent letter fee: $25.
H. 
License replacement fee: $10.
I. 
Late fee: $25.
The smoking of tobacco shall not be permitted in any taxicab or limousine licensed by the Township during the operation of such vehicles. The prohibition shall be conspicuously posted in each vehicle for hire.
A. 
The licensing official shall have power to suspend or revoke an operating license under any of the following provisions:
(1) 
The licensing official may revoke any license of either class if the applicant for the license has been once convicted of a crime in this or any other jurisdiction, or convicted of being a disorderly person or of a violation of Title 39, Motor Vehicles and Traffic Regulations, of the Revised Statutes, or who consistently violates any provision of this chapter or has any judgment unsatisfied or record against them arising out of an automobile accident or who has made false answers in their application for such license or any renewal thereof or who has not complied fully with all requirements of this chapter for such class of license; or
(2) 
The licensing official may suspend:
(a) 
Any taxicab driver's license, if the licensee or applicant has in any degree contributed to any injury to person or damage to property arising out of negligent operation of a motor vehicle; or has any communicable or contagious disease; or
(b) 
Any taxicab or limousine owner's license if the policy of insurance required herein has lapsed, or if such coverage is not maintained at all times. Such suspension shall be for a period not to exceed 30 days.
B. 
Within 10 days of the date of the suspension or revocation, an appeal from any such suspension or revocation may be made to the Township Manager who shall forthwith schedule a hearing on the appeal. The Township Manager shall render their decision within two days after completion of the hearing.