No person shall drive a taxi or limousine for hire upon the streets of the City, and no person who owns or controls a taxi or limousine shall permit it to be so driven and no taxi or limousine licensed by the City shall be so driven for hire, unless the driver of said taxi or limousine shall have first obtained and shall have then in force and in his possession a taxi or limousine driver's license issued by the City Clerk as provided in this article.
No taxi or limousine driver's license shall be issued unless the applicant therefor:
A. 
Is at least 18 years of age, and is of sound mind and body.
B. 
Is a resident of the State of New Jersey for six months or more.
C. 
Is the holder for at least one year before the application date of a current and valid automobile driver's license issued by the State of New Jersey, Division of Motor Vehicles.
D. 
Is able to read and write the English language.
E. 
Is not addicted to the use of narcotics or intoxicating liquors, and agrees not to partake of any intoxicating liquors or drowsiness-producing medications during a regular tour of duty.
F. 
Produces statements of his good character from two reputable citizens of the City who have known the applicant personally and observed his conduct for at least one year preceding the date of the application.
G. 
Submits a completed medical examiner's certificate required under 49 CFR 391.41 through 391.49 to the City from a licensed physician stating that the applicant has been examined within 60 days of the date of the application and is fit for the safe operation of a taxi or limousine.
H. 
The applicant shall be required to consent to and submit to a state and federal criminal history record background check, the costs of which, including all costs of administering and processing the check, shall be borne by the applicant.
I. 
The applicant shall be required to apply to the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission for a certified driver history abstract, which shall be forwarded to the City Clerk, at the cost and expense of the applicant.
A. 
An application for a taxi or limousine driver's license shall be filed with the City Clerk and on the forms provided by the City Clerk. Every application shall be verified under oath and shall contain the following:
(1) 
Full name and address of the applicant.
(2) 
Age, color, height, weight, color of eyes, color of hair.
(3) 
Place of birth.
(4) 
Marital status.
(5) 
Place of residence for preceding five years.
(6) 
Length of time the applicant has resided in the City at his/her present address.
(7) 
Previous employment and employer.
(8) 
Applicant's prior criminal record, including all convictions of any crimes and disorderly persons offenses.
(9) 
Length of time the applicant has been a licensed automobile driver of the State of New Jersey.
(10) 
Whether a driver's license issued to him/her by New Jersey, any other state, or any municipality has been suspended or revoked, and for what cause.
(11) 
Three recent photographs of himself not less than 1 1/2 inches in diameter.
(12) 
The applicant will produce his original driver's license from which the City Clerk shall make a copy.
(13) 
Such other reasonable information as may be required.
B. 
Any misrepresentation of any material fact made or disclosed in the application shall be cause for refusal and revocation of the license or the imposition of the penalty provided for in this chapter.
Before any taxi or limousine driver's license is issued, the Chief of Police shall investigate, or cause to be investigated, the driving record and criminal character of the applicant. The applicant shall comply with § 413-2D hereinabove.
A. 
Upon the filing of an application for a taxi or limousine driver's license, the City Clerk shall refer the application and three photographs of the applicant to the Chief of Police, who shall cause the applicant to be fingerprinted and shall cause an investigation to be made of the applicant's qualifications. The Chief of Police or his designee shall consider the application filed by the applicant and any and all reports required by this chapter and any other pertinent applicable law. The Chief of Police shall approve or reject the application in writing stating therein his reasons for such rejection, if any. The Chief of Police shall serve his determination upon the applicant within five days of his approval or rejection of the application. Upon completion of his investigation, the Chief shall deliver a report to the Municipal Council, indicating his approval or his disapproval of the application and the reasons therefor.
B. 
Upon satisfactory completion of the application process and the payment of a fee of $25, a taxi or limousine license shall be issued to the applicant. In addition, the applicant shall be required to pay an additional fee of $10 for the first application only, for the purpose of defraying costs of processing the application. The applicant will also be responsible for all fees required under state law. The annual license renewal fee will be $25.
C. 
All taxi and limousine drivers' licenses shall be issued for the calendar year and shall expire on December 31 of the year of issuance, unless sooner suspended or revoked by the Chief of Police pursuant to this chapter.
A. 
The applicant may appeal a rejection to the Municipal Council by filing a written notice of appeal in letter form with the City Clerk and the Chief of Police within 10 days of service of the Chief of Police's determination. The notice of appeal should specify the grounds of appeal, the name and address of the applicant-appellant and the name and address of his attorney, if any. The applicant shall file an affidavit of proof of service with the City Clerk within five days of service upon the Chief of Police. The notice of appeal shall be filed and served by personal service or certified mail.
B. 
The appeal shall be decided by the Municipal Council upon the record below, upon supplemental and additional proofs, if any, and upon oral and written testimony, if any, submitted by the applicant-appellant and the Chief of Police.
C. 
The Municipal Council may affirm, reverse, remand or modify the Chief of Police's decision within 45 days after the filing of said notice of appeal, unless the applicant shall consent in writing to an extension of time. Failure of the Municipal Council to hold a hearing and render a decision within such specified period shall constitute a decision affirming the action of the Chief of Police.
A. 
Every taxi and limousine driver's license shall contain the name, signature and photograph of the licensee, and such other information as the Chief of Police may reasonably require. Such license shall be signed by the Chief of Police and the City Clerk.
B. 
Whenever the licensed taxi or limousine driver is operating a licensed taxi and limousine, the taxi or limousine driver's license shall be placed in a conspicuous part of the interior of the licensed taxi or limousine which the licensee is authorized to operate and shall be placed adjacent to the taxi or limousine license.