Licensed taxicabs, limousines and liveries may be inspected and reinspected at any time for cleanliness, sanitary condition, and mechanical safety for the transportation of passengers and general safety and fitness for public patronage. Such inspections shall be made and records thereof shall be kept by the Police Department.
The name, monogram, insignia or color scheme of a licensed taxicab shall not be changed after the issuance of a license therefor so as to be in conflict with the name, monogram, insignia or color scheme used by any other licensee.
Any change of address of the owner of any taxicab, limousine or livery or of any driver occurring after the issuance of a license under this chapter shall be reported by said licensee to the Director of Licensing, in writing, within three days after such change. The Director of Licensing shall immediately report such change of address to the Chief of Police.
A. 
The City of East Orange will be divided into six zones. The fare will be $7 if the pickup and dropoff is within the same zone, and $1 additional to carry passengers between zones, with a maximum charge of $12. There is no fee for children five years of age and under.
B. 
When there are three or more passengers, a two-dollar fee will be added to the fare.
C. 
There will be a charge of $1 for all luggage beyond the first bag, a flat fee for groceries of $2 and laundry for $2, only if driver assists in handling these items.
D. 
Flat rate to Newark Airport not to exceed $35; flat rate to Penn Station, Newark, $20; to LaGuardia Airport, $100 (plus tolls); and Kennedy Airport, $120 (plus tolls).
E. 
Fares outside of the City of East Orange within a one- to three-mile radius may not exceed $16. Rates outside this provision will be determined between the passenger and driver prior to departure.
Every licensed taxicab driver shall record in writing the time and place each passenger is accepted and the time and place of discharge of the passenger. Such records shall be kept intact for one year from the date thereof. Such records shall be kept open for inspection at all times during the one-year period by a duly authorized representative of the Police Department.
No driver of any licensed taxicab in soliciting employment shall so operate a taxicab as to interfere with or impede unnecessarily the movement of other vehicles or pedestrians. Employment may be solicited by driving through any public street or place at a rate of speed that will not interfere with or impede traffic. No passenger shall be solicited unless within six feet of a taxicab.
No taxicab passenger shall be accepted or discharged on a public street except at the curb.
The Director of Licensing along with the Director of Public Works are hereby empowered to establish open stands in such places upon the streets of the City of East Orange as they deem necessary for the use of taxicabs operating in the City. Both Directors shall create such open stands after taking into consideration the need for such stands, convenience to the general public and with the recommendation of the Police and Fire Departments of the City and approval of the City Council by resolution. No licensed taxicab may park or stand in any public street or public place in the City except in such place or places as may be designated by ordinance, resolution or regulation adopted in accordance with law. There shall be a metal sign attached to a stanchion on the curb or other conspicuous place prescribed by the Chief of Police or the Director of Public Works designating a taxi parking space. Only such taxicabs as are for hire may remain at designated taxicab stands while waiting for employment and shall position their vehicles in a single line. After the first taxicab in line leaves the stand, those behind shall move up. Any other taxicab seeking parking space in such stand shall approach it only from the rear thereof.
A. 
No taxi in public or private use may park on public streets or in public places in the City of East Orange unless the driver is waiting to pick up or discharge passengers. No such taxi shall stand at the curb within 15 feet of the entrance of any public building, and no parking stand will be within 10 feet of any crosswalk. This provision shall not apply to taxicabs parked at a taxi stand.
B. 
The Director of Licensing shall prescribe the maximum number of taxicabs occupying a stand at one time.
C. 
Nothing in this section shall prevent any passenger from boarding the taxicab of his/her choice at any stand.
D. 
Taxicabs shall be permitted to stand, load and unload passengers at locations identified by appropriate signage as "taxicab stands." The locations and quantity of respective stands on each roadway is as follows:
Street
Number of Stands
Brick Church Plaza
12
Central Avenue (in front of EOGH)
3
City Hall Plaza (opposite to EO Train Station)[1]
5
Dr. MLK Boulevard (west of South Harrison Street)
3
Tremont Avenue (opposite VA hospital)
3
Brookwood Street (north of South Orange Avenue)
3
South Orange Avenue (east of Brookwood Street)
3
Central Avenue (west of South Grove Street)
3
Central Avenue (east of South Grove Street)
3
Princeton Street (south of Central Avenue)
3
Park Avenue (east of North Clinton Street)
2
Total:
43
[1]
Editor's Note: Pursuant to Ord. No. 20-2023, adopted 9-11-2023, the name of City Hall Plaza was changed to "Lt. Governor Sheila Y. Oliver Court."
E. 
All taxicabs are required to follow all laws pertaining to public littering and health. Taxicabs are to relocate in the event that they are impeding the sweeping of streets, plowing of snow or under any circumstance that the City deems exigent. No taxicabs are to be parked overnight in taxicab stands.
F. 
Only vehicles licensed to operate within the City of East Orange as taxicabs are permitted to stand in spaces marked for this use.
The driver of any licensed taxicab shall have the authority to demand payment of legal fare in advance and may refuse employment unless such fare is so prepaid, but no driver of a taxicab shall otherwise refuse employment by an orderly person for transportation anywhere in the City. No driver of a taxicab shall carry any person other than the first passenger employing him or her without the consent of the first passenger.
No owner or driver of any licensed taxicab, limousine or livery shall induce any person to employ him or her by knowingly misinforming or misleading such person. No driver shall convey any passenger to any place or by any route other than the most direct route, unless otherwise directed by said passenger.
No owner or driver of any licensed livery or limousine may solicit patronage in any public street or public place in the City.
The driver of any licensed taxicab, limousine or livery, immediately after the termination of any hiring or employment, shall carefully search his or her taxicab or livery for any property lost or abandoned therein. Such property, unless sooner claimed or delivered to the owner, shall be reported in writing by the driver or by the owner of the taxicab, limousine or livery to the Police Department, giving particulars and a brief description of said property, within 24 hours after the finding of the same. All such property not claimed within said twenty-four-hour period shall be turned over by such driver or owner of a taxicab, limousine or livery to the Property Clerk of the Police Department.
Nothing contained in this chapter shall prohibit the use of a taxicab, limousine or livery for private purposes, provided that there is no solicitation of patronage.
A. 
No licensed driver shall commit an act or acts which would disqualify him or her for a driver's license under § 249-18 (drug or liquor addiction, habitual violation of the Motor Vehicle Act, conviction of an indictable offense or conviction of any criminal offense involving moral turpitude) or shall permit a taxicab or livery driven by him or her to be used for any illegal or immoral purpose.
B. 
No owner of a licensed taxicab, limousine or livery shall permit the use of such taxicab, limousine or livery for illegal or immoral purposes.