[HISTORY: Adopted by the Borough Council of the Borough of Caldwell 11-16-1964 by Ord. No. 452 as Ch. 23 of the 1964 Code. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Vehicles and traffic — See Ch. 230.
Fees — See Ch. A270.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
TAXICAB
Includes any automobile or motorcar, with a base of operation in the Borough, 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 or public highways of the Borough, and particularly accepts and discharges such persons as may offer themselves from points or places to points or places within or without the Borough.
No taxicab shall be run or operated over or along the streets of the Borough for the transportation of passengers unless it is licensed according to the provisions of this chapter.
Every person applying for a taxicab license shall make such application to the Borough Clerk in writing, setting forth his name, age and residence, and, if a corporation, the names and residences of its principal officers. Such application shall also state the name and carrying capacity of the vehicle. Every applicant for such a license shall be at least 21 years of age, a citizen of the United States and of good moral character.
[Amended 7-13-1999 by Ord. No. 1073-99]
A. 
A taxicab license shall be issued for a term of one year commencing on April 1 and expiring on March 31.
B. 
The annual license fee shall be in the amount set forth in Chapter A270, Fees. When an application for a license is made during the course of any licensing year, the fee shall be prorated to the nearest month. Any period of time greater than 1/2 month shall be considered a full month for the purpose of determining the prorated fee.
C. 
Licenses may be automatically renewed subject to the approval of the Chief of Police and Borough Clerk, upon payment of the annual fee.
D. 
The Police Chief shall review all applications for a license or renewal of a license and shall inform the Borough Clerk if his records indicate any criminal violations of the type that would affect the issuance of a license or renewal thereof.
[Amended 7-13-1999 by Ord. No. 1073-99]
A. 
No taxicab owner's license shall be issued by the Borough Clerk unless the applicant shall furnish to and file with the Borough Clerk a certificate showing that the applicant is the holder of a valid liability insurance policy issued by an insurance company duly authorized to transact business in the state, covering each vehicle to be licensed, protecting the owner-applicant and the drivers of such vehicle against liability or damages for injuries to persons or property suffered or sustained by any person as the result of an accident in which such vehicle may be involved, in the amounts set forth by N.J.S.A. 48:16-3.
B. 
The owner of a taxicab must execute and deliver a power of attorney to the chief fiscal officer of the Borough pursuant to N.J.S.A. 48:16-5.
Every person applying for a taxicab driver's license shall make application to the Borough Clerk in writing, setting forth his name, age and residence and the name and carrying capacity of the vehicle. Such applicant shall be at least 18 years of age, a citizen of the United States and of good moral character.
No taxicab driver's license shall be issued until the applicant therefor has paid to the Borough Clerk a fee of $5 per year. Such license shall expire on the first day of January next after its issuance.
Every taxicab driver's license shall state the following information:
A. 
The object for which it was granted.
B. 
The name of the person licensed.
C. 
The number of the license.
D. 
The date of its expiration.
The Borough Clerk shall keep a register of all licenses granted under the provisions of this chapter, showing the number and date of each license and the name of each person licensed.
[Amended 7-13-1999 by Ord. No. 1073-99]
Every license granted under the provisions of this chapter may be suspended, after notice and hearing, for a period not exceeding 10 days by the Mayor, Chairman of the Police Committee or Borough Council, upon satisfactory cause appearing to him or them for so doing. Every license granted under the provisions of this chapter may be revoked by the Mayor and Borough Council upon satisfactory cause appearing to them for so doing after hearing, upon two days' notice, in writing, to the licensee or driver. Violation of any of the provisions of this chapter, other ordinances of the Borough, conviction of any violation of the Motor Vehicle Act of the state,[1] refusal to obey the regulations of the Police Department or orders of any police officer of the Borough or allowing any licensed taxicab to be or remain in an unsafe or unclean condition shall be satisfactory causes for revocation of licenses. During such suspension or after such license shall be revoked, such license shall be inoperative and of no effect. No person shall, after such revocation of his license, continue to pursue the business or calling for which he may have been licensed.
[1]
Editor's Note: See N.J.S.A. 39:1-1 et seq.
Every taxicab covered by the terms of this chapter and licensed hereunder shall be inspected at least twice a year by the Police Department and at such additional intervals as shall be established by the Chief of Police to ensure the safe, good state of repair and clean condition of such taxicabs.
Every person licensed as a taxicab driver shall, when the license is issued, obtain from the Borough Clerk a suitable badge or shield numbered to correspond with the number of his license, and every person so licensed shall, while engaged in his business as a driver, expose his badge or shield to public view by wearing the same upon some conspicuous place upon his person and shall not lend his badge or shield to another or wear a badge or shield other than the one issued to him.
[Amended 8-27-1974 by Ord. No. 567; 3-27-1979 by Ord. No. 647; 6-10-1980 by Ord. No. 665; 4-5-1988 by Ord. No. 808-88]
A. 
Where the trip is within a radius of five miles from the Borough Hall, located on Provost Square, Caldwell, New Jersey:
(1) 
Two dollars for the first 1/2 mile or fraction thereof.
(2) 
Twenty-five cents for each additional 1/8 of a mile or fraction thereof.
(3) 
Fifty cents for each person over two carried on any one trip.
(4) 
Fifty cents for each two minutes of meter waiting time.
(5) 
Fifty cents in addition to the foregoing rates for any call for service rendered between the hours of 12:00 midnight and 6:00 a.m. agreed upon by the driver and passenger prior to leaving.
B. 
The fares and rates set forth in Subsection A(1) through (5) above shall be subject to the following maximum limitation: no trip within the limits of the Borough of Caldwell shall exceed the sum of $5, and the rate for senior citizens shall be 2/3 of the aforesaid rates, subject to a maximum rate of $4 for trips within the Borough of Caldwell.
C. 
Where the destination of the passenger is outside a radius of five miles from the Borough Hall, a flat or fixed rate shall be agreed upon between the passenger and taxicab operator in advance of the hiring of the taxicab.
D. 
All prior fares and rates for taxicabs licensed and transporting passengers for hire in the Borough of Caldwell are hereby repealed and superseded by the rates and fares established in this chapter.
There shall be fixed in every licensed vehicle, in such manner that the same can be conveniently read by any person therein, a card containing the name of the owner of such vehicle, the number of his license and the rates that have been authorized by the Borough Council.
No owner or driver of any licensed taxicab shall perform any of the following acts:
A. 
Use indecent or profane language or be guilty of boisterous talking or shouting or any disorderly conduct.
B. 
Leave his vehicle to solicit customers or solicit customers in a noisy, persistent or offensive manner, vex or annoy travelers or citizens or obstruct any sidewalk or crosswalk.
C. 
Employ any person to ask or solicit travelers or citizens for employment.
D. 
Drive such vehicle or seek employment as such driver while under the influence of liquor.
E. 
The driver of any licensed vehicle awaiting employment shall not move the same from the designated stand to take a passenger until summoned therefor by the passenger.
F. 
While waiting for employment at any place other than the garage or residence of the owner thereof, refuse or neglect to convey any person any place within the Borough.
G. 
Ask, demand, receive or extort any larger sum than he may be entitled to receive.
The Borough Council may from time to time designate taxicab stands in such public places as it deems proper and may make regulations for the use of such stands as it may deem necessary to preserve order and promote public convenience.
[Added 7-13-1999 by Ord. No. 1073-99; amended 10-14-2008 by Ord. No. 1187-08]
Any violation of this chapter shall be punishable by a fine not exceeding $2,000, imprisonment for a term not exceeding 90 days, a period of community service not exceeding 90 days, or a combination thereof.