[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Council
of the Township of Old Bridge as Ch. VIII of the 1973 Revised General
Ordinances. Amendments noted where applicable.]
It shall be unlawful for any person to solicit
any passengers or fares within the Township without first having obtained
a license from the Clerk or his designated representative.
As used in this chapter, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
Includes any automobile, motor car or other vehicle commonly
called "taxi" engaged in the business of carrying passengers for hire
which is held out, announced or advertised to operate or run over
any of the streets or public highways of the Township, and particularly
accepts such persons as may offer themselves for transportation within
the Township. The term shall not include autobuses, public liveries,
jitneys or other such vehicles which are hired by charter or for a
particular contract agreed upon in advance or such public conveyances
as are by law subject to state or federal regulations exclusively.
A.
Taxicab owner's license.
(1)
Any person desiring to obtain a license for the operation
of a taxicab or taxicabs shall make separate application in writing
to the Clerk or his designated representative for the granting of
a license for each vehicle, which application shall be made on blank
forms to be furnished by the Township and shall contain such information
as may from time to time be deemed requisite to determine the fitness
of the applicant to conduct the business and adequacy of the vehicle
and equipment to be used.
(2)
Every applicant for this license shall be a citizen
of the United States and at least 18 years of age. No application
shall be accepted unless it is accompanied by the full amount of the
required license fee.
(3)
The license when issued shall in no way be construed
to permit an owner or operator to drive or operate a taxicab without
a taxicab driver's license.
B.
Taxicab driver's license.
(1)
Each applicant for a taxicab driver's license shall
be at least 18 years of age, a citizen of the United States, and the
holder of a state driver's license issued by the State of New Jersey.
Each applicant shall prove to the satisfaction of the Clerk or his
designated representative that he is in good health with good eyesight
and that he is able to read and write the English language and is
of good character and that he has knowledge of the traffic regulations
and geography of the Township.
(2)
All applications for taxicab driver's license shall
be made in writing to the Clerk, which applications shall be made
upon blank forms to be furnished by the Township and shall give, in
addition to the information required by this section, such further
information as may from time to time be deemed requisite to determine
the fitness of the applicant to act in the capacity specified. Each
application shall be accompanied by the full amount of the license
fee as hereinafter provided.
(3)
Criminal
history record background check.
[Added 12-12-2011 by Ord. No. 2011-17]
(a)
Each operator or driver of the autocab for which the owner thereof
is seeking the consent to operate in a municipality must submit to
the performance of a criminal history record background check. The
cost for the criminal history record background check, including all
costs of administering and processing the check, shall be borne by
the operator or driver of the autocab.
(b)
A person shall be disqualified from operating or driving an autocab
if a criminal history record background check required pursuant to
this subsection reveals a record of conviction of any of the following
crimes:
[1]
In New Jersey or elsewhere any crime as follows: aggravated assault,
arson, burglary, escape, extortion, homicide, kidnapping, robbery,
aggravated sexual assault, sexual assault or endangering the welfare
of a child pursuant to N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4, whether or not armed with
or having in his possession any weapon enumerated in Subsection r
of N.J.S.A. 2C-39-1, a crime pursuant to the provisions of N.J.S.A.
2C:39-3, 2C:39-4 or 2C:39-9, or 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.
[2]
In any other state, territory, commonwealth, or other jurisdiction of the United States, or any country in the world, as a result of a conviction in a court of competent jurisdiction, a crime which in that other jurisdiction or country is comparable to one of the crimes enumerated in Subsection B(3)(b)[1].
[3]
If a person who has been convicted of one of the crimes enumerated in Subsection B(3)(b)[1] and [2] can produce a certificate of rehabilitation issued pursuant to N.J.S.A. 2A:168A-8 or, if the criminal offense occurred outside New Jersey, an equivalent certificate from the jurisdiction where the criminal offense occurred, the criminal offense shall not disqualify the applicant from operating or driving an autocab.
[Amended 1-9-2006 by Ord. No. 38-2005]
No owner's license shall be issued until the
applicant submits the insurance policy or certificate in lieu thereof
required by N.J.S.A. 48:16-3 covering the taxicab to be licensed and
until the taxicab has been thoroughly and carefully inspected by the
Office of Traffic and Safety, Department of Police, and found to be
in a safe, clean and sanitary condition for the transportation of
passengers. Each owner's license issued hereunder shall state the
make, motor and serial number of the car licensed and license number
of the vehicle as granted by the State of New Jersey. No owner's license
shall be transferred from one vehicle to another. Taxicab driver's
licenses shall not be transferable. All changes of residence on the
part of the holder of any license issued under this chapter shall
be reported in writing to the Township Clerk within three days after
the change.
[Amended 1-9-2006 by Ord. No. 38-2005; 6-12-2006 by Ord. No.
27-2006]
Every driver or operator when in charge of a
taxicab licensed under this chapter shall have in his immediate possession
a valid taxicab driver's license, which license shall be exhibited
at any time upon request by the Clerk, any member of the Township
Council, any police officer, any duly authorized agent of the Township
or any passenger.
A.
The Township Council is authorized to designate by
resolution or ordinance such places in the Township as public stands
for taxicabs as it may deem expedient and proper and may give such
direction regarding the places and position to be occupied as public
stands as it may deem necessary to preserve order and promote public
convenience.
B.
No vehicle which is not licensed hereunder shall occupy
any part of a public stand as so designated.
Every taxicab while occupying space on a public
stand or public street shall be immediately available for hire. Upon
request, no owner or driver unless previously engaged shall refuse
or neglect to carry any orderly person anywhere within a radius of
10 miles of the Township. No owner or driver shall leave his vehicle
unattended, or in any manner render the vehicle unready for immediate
use while it is occupying space within any public stand or public
street.
No passengers shall be solicited for any taxicab
except by a driver duly licensed by the Township who is operating
a taxicab licensed by the Township. No person operating such a taxicab
shall permit or allow any person other than a passenger being transported
for hire in or about such taxicab when in service as a taxicab.
No owner or driver of any taxicab shall induce
any person to employ him by knowingly misinforming or misleading such
person either as to the time or place of the arrival or departure
of any train or bus, or as to the location of any hotel, public or
private place, nor shall any such owner or driver deceive any person,
make false misrepresentations to him or convey any passenger to any
other place or over any other route than that indicated by the passenger.
A.
Every taxicab licensed under this chapter shall carry
affixed therein so that the same may be conveniently read by any passenger
a card containing the name of the owner of the vehicle and the number
of the owner's license.
B.
Every taxicab shall have painted on both sides the
words "Taxi," "Cab" or "Taxicab" or the name of the operating owner
containing the words "Taxi," "Cab" or "Taxicab" in letters at least
two inches high.
C.
Every taxicab shall also carry in such a position
an electric sign not less than four inches by eight inches by 10 inches
which shall be illuminated and shall plainly show the word "Taxi"
or the owner's name or the owner's telephone number.
D.
The owner
of an autocab shall cause to be displayed on the body of the vehicle
the taxi license number issued to that vehicle. The number shall be
three inches in height and located in the center of the rear quarter
panels on the driver and passenger sides and the rear center line
of the trunk of the vehicle. Each autocab shall display on each rear
door of the autocab the name of the municipality or municipalities
which have issued the autocab a taxi license in letters three inches
in height.
[Added 12-12-2011 by Ord. No. 2011-17]
The owners or operators of taxicabs within the
Township shall only charge the schedule of rates of fares for transportation
within the Township or to points outside the Township as have been
submitted to the Clerk with the application for a license and which
schedule of rates has been approved by the Clerk.
The number of taxicab licenses authorized to
be issued under the provisions of this chapter shall be limited to
one such license for each 3,000 residents of the Township as determined
by the latest federal census.
Any license may be revoked or suspended at any
time for cause. When so suspended or revoked, such license shall not
be reissued except for good and sufficient reason shown.
The Clerk may make such rules and regulations
in relation to the operation of taxicabs and the conduct of the operators
thereof as he may from time to time determine to be necessary and
proper in the best interest of the citizens of the Township. Any violation
of such rules and regulations shall constitute a violation of this
chapter. Such rules and regulations shall not become effective until
48 hours after they have been promulgated and posted in a conspicuous
place in the Township Hall and copies thereof mailed to the current
holders of taxicab owners' and taxicab drivers' licenses.
[Amended 7-20-1992 by Ord. No. 26-92]
A.
Definitions. For the purpose of this chapter, words
and phrases herein shall have the same meaning as in N.J.S.A. 48:16-13.
B.
Insurance.
[Amended 7-22-2002 by Ord. No. 35-02]
(1)
No limousine shall be operated wholly or partly along
any street in any municipality until the owner of the limousine shall
have filed with the Clerk of the municipality in which the owner has
his principal place of business, an insurance policy of a company
duly licensed to transact business under the insurance laws of this
state in the sum of $1,500,000 against loss by reason of the liability
imposed by law upon every limousine owner for damages on account of
bodily injury or death suffered by any person as the result of an
accident occurring by reason of the ownership, maintenance or use
of the limousine upon any public street. Such operation shall be permitted
only so long as the insurance policy shall remain in force to the
full and collectible amount of $1,500,000.
(2)
The insurance policy shall provide for the payment
of any final judgment recovered by any person on account of the ownership,
maintenance and use of such limousine, or any fault in respect thereto,
and shall be for the benefit of every person suffering loss, damage
or injury as aforesaid.
C.
Power of attorney. The owner of the limousine shall
execute and deliver to the Division of Motor Vehicles, concurrently
with filing of a policy referred to in N.J.S.A. 48:16-14, a power
of attorney, wherein and whereby the owner shall appoint the Director
of the Division of Motor Vehicles his true and lawful attorney for
the purpose of acknowledging service of any process out of a court
of competent jurisdiction to be served against the insured by virtue
of the indemnity granted under the insurance policy filed. A copy
of the power of attorney shall be placed on file in the office of
the Township Clerk.
D.
License application.
[Amended 1-28-2002 by Ord. No. 01-02; 7-22-2002 by Ord. No.
35-02]
(1)
In addition to the submission of an insurance policy
and the power of attorney, the applicant must submit a valid New Jersey
driver's license and a valid registration for the vehicle to be licensed.
The applicant shall submit to a background check and being photographed
and fingerprinted by the Police Department. The minimum fee for such
initial background check, fingerprinting and photographing shall be
$30. For renewal of fingerprinting and photographing, the minimum
fee shall be $18. Fees are to be paid by money order made payable
to the Division of State Police.[2]
(2)
An applicant residing in an apartment complex must
submit a current lease demonstrating Old Bridge Township residency.
A letter on the apartment complex stationery must be submitted indicating
permission for garaging of said vehicle on private premises.
(3)
An applicant residing in a planned unit development
must submit a letter from his or her housing association stating applicant
is permitted to garage a limousine.
(4)
An applicant shall be limited to one license per address.
An applicant who wishes to obtain an additional license must submit
a notarized letter from the garage or owner of commercial property
where the applicant's additional limousine shall be garaged, stating
the applicant is permitted to garage his or her limousine at such
address.
E.
Issuance of license to operate limousine; fees.
[Amended 7-22-2002 by Ord. No. 35-02]
(1)
The clerk of the municipality in which the owner has
his principal place of business, upon the filing of the required insurance
policy, required documentation, and the payment of a fee of $50, shall
issue in duplicate a license to operate showing that the owner of
the limousine has complied with the terms and provisions of this article.[3]
(2)
The license shall recite the name of the insurance
company, the number and date of expiration of the policy, a description
of limousine insured thereunder and the registration number of the
same.
(3)
The duplicate license shall be filed with the Division
of Motor Vehicles before any such car is registered as a limousine.
(4)
The original license shall be retained within the
limousine and be available for inspection by any police officer in
the state. In lieu of insurance information required on the license
pursuant to this section, the owner of a limousine may affix to the
original license retained within the limousine, a notarized letter
from an insurance company containing the same insurance information
required in the recital, which shall constitute proof of insurance
coverage, and which shall also be available for inspection by any
police officer in the state. A copy of the notarized letter shall
constitute proof to the Director of the Division of Motor Vehicles
that the applicant has complied with the insurance provision of this
section.
