[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Commissioners of the City
of Union City 1-7-1997 as Ch. IX of the 1996 Revised General Ordinances. Amendments
noted where applicable.]
The following words and phrases, when used in this chapter,
shall have the following meanings:
A public place alongside the curb of a street or elsewhere
in the City, which place the Director of the Department of Public
Safety has authorized holders of taxicab licenses to use exclusively
for the dispatching of company taxicabs.
The driving of a taxicab on the streets or public places
of the City in search of or soliciting prospective passengers for
hire.
The permission granted by the Director of the Department
of Public Safety to a person to drive a taxicab upon the streets of
the City.
A public hearing at which the licensee shall be given an
opportunity to appear personally and be represented by his/her chosen
counsel and be heard and to present evidence in his/her behalf of
otherwise answer the charges against him/her.
A person to whom a taxicab license has been issued.
The Inspector of Licenses in the Department of Revenue and
Finance.
Any individual, corporation or other legal entity, partnership
or incorporated association, but does not include a child of less
than six years of age.
A card issued by the License Inspector for display in each
taxicab.
A motor vehicle regularly engaged in the business or carrying
passengers for hire, which is so constructed so as to comfortably
seat not less than four passengers exclusive of the driver, and not
operated on a fixed route.
To sell, transfer or in any other manner dispose of a taxicab
license. Where the license is in the name of a corporation or other
legal entity, any change in control of the holder shall constitute
a transfer of the taxicab license held in the name of the corporation
or other legal entity. The Director of Public Safety shall determine
what constitutes change in control.
The time when a taxicab is not in motion from the time of
acceptance of a passenger or passengers to the time of discharge,
but does not include any time that the taxicab is not in motion, if
due to any cause other than the request, action or fault of a passenger
or passengers.
[Amended 10-1-2013; 11-6-2013; 9-1-2015]
In order to ensure the safety of the public, it shall be unlawful
for the holder to operate, cause or permit a taxicab to be operated,
nor shall any license be issued hereunder, until and unless the holder
or applicant shall have secured an insurance policy from a company
duly licensed to transact business under the laws of this state conditioned
for the payment of a sum of not less than $100,000 to satisfy all
claims for damages by reason of bodily injury to or the death of any
one person resulting from an accident, and a sum of not less than
$100,000 to satisfy all claims for damages by reason of bodily injuries
to or the death of all persons on account of any such accident by
reason of the ownership, operation, maintenance or use of such taxicab
upon any public street, and a sum of not less than $50,000 to satisfy
all claims for damages to property by reason thereof. This insurance
must contain a thirty-day notice of cancellation of the policy to
Union City, who must be an additional insured on the policy. The owner
shall furnish the license inspector with evidence, satisfactory to
Union City, that the requirements of this provision have been met.
A.
No person shall operate or permit a taxicab owned or controlled by
him/her to be operated as a vehicle for hire upon the streets of the
City without having first obtained a taxicab license from the License
Inspector.
B.
No license shall be issued or renewed unless the holder thereof has paid an annual license fee as set forth in Chapter 155, Fees, for each taxicab license for the right to engage in the taxicab business. The license shall be for the year ending on December 31 and shall be in addition to any other fees or charges established by proper authorities and applicable to the holder for the vehicle or vehicles under his/her operation and control.
A.
Applications for a license shall be filed with the License Inspector
upon forms provided by the City. The application shall be verified
under oath and shall furnish the following information:
(1)
Name and address of applicant; where the applicant is not a natural
person, the name and address of all owners or participants in the
ownership of the legal entity and all officers, Directors or others
of like position by whatever their title.
(2)
The year, type and model of vehicle for which the license is desired;
the number of persons the vehicle is capable of carrying.
(3)
Such further information as the License Inspector of the City may
require.
B.
The annual application for renewal of taxicab licenses shall be filed
not later than 30 days prior to the expiration date.
A.
If the Director of the Department of Public Safety finds that the
applicant is fit, willing and able to provide public transportation
in accordance with the provisions of this chapter and the rules promulgated
by the Director, (s)he shall order the issuance of a license stating
the name and address of the applicant, the date of issuance and the
year, type and model of the vehicle; otherwise, the application shall
be denied.
B.
In making the above findings, the Director shall take into consideration
the character, experience and responsibility of the applicant.
C.
The number of taxicab licenses issued and in use at any one time
shall not exceed 125. Each current licensed taxicab company can maintain
the current number of licensed taxicabs. New taxicab companies shall
be able to apply for no more than 10 taxicab licenses each year.
[Amended 10-16-2007; 5-21-2013]
No taxicab license may be sold, assigned or otherwise transferred without the consent of the Director. Any license may be transferred to another, to be used in the bona fide operation of a taxicab business, with the consent of the Director upon the filing of an application as provided in § 386-4 of this chapter and upon payment of a transfer fee as set forth in Chapter 155, Fees, provided that no transfer may be made in the month of December. No taxicab license shall be assigned, mortgaged, pledged or otherwise transferred to secure a debt, loan, advance or other financing transaction.
[Amended 10-21-2003]
A.
All licenses issued pursuant to this chapter may be suspended or
revoked by the Board of Commissioners for violation of any ordinance
of the City or of the laws of the United States or of the State of
New Jersey which demonstrates that the license holder is not fit to
offer public transportation.
(1)
A second violation of this chapter shall result in a one-year suspension
of the offender's license.
(2)
A third violation of this chapter shall result in revocation of the
offender's license.
(3)
Any violation of Chapter 261, Noise, shall result in a one-year suspension
of the offender's license.
(4)
An second violation of Chapter 261, Noise, shall result in revocation
of the offender's license; or discontinued operation for more
than 60 consecutive days.
B.
Prior to any license revocation or suspension pursuant to this section,
the holder shall be entitled to written notice of the charges and
a hearing before the Board of Commissioner to show cause why the proposed
action should not be taken.
A.
No person shall operate a taxicab for hire upon the streets of the
City and no person who owns or controls a taxicab shall permit it
to be so driven, and no taxicab licensed by the City shall be so driven
at any time for hire, unless the driver of the taxicab shall have
first obtained and shall have then in force the taxicab driver's
license under the provisions of this chapter; and provided, further,
that the driver shall be a holder or servant, employee or agent of
such holder.
A.
An application for a driver's license shall be filed with the
License Inspector on forms provided by the City. The application shall
contain the following:
(1)
The full name and address of the applicant.
(2)
Places of residence for the preceding five years.
(3)
Age, height, color of eyes and hair.
(4)
Place of birth, whether married or single.
(5)
Previous employment, whether (s)he has ever been convicted of a high
misdemeanor, misdemeanor, violation of the disorderly persons act
or a violation of this chapter.
(6)
Whether a driver's license issued by any state or political
subdivision thereof ever held by him/her has been suspended or revoked
and, if so, for what cause.
(7)
Four passport type photographs taken within 30 days of the application,
front view, size two inches by two inches.
The Police Department shall conduct an investigation of each
applicant for a driver's license, and a report of such investigation
and a copy of the traffic and police record of the applicant, if any,
shall be attached to the application for the consideration of the
Director of the Department of Public Safety.
The Director of the Department of Public Safety, upon consideration
of the application and the reports and certificate required to be
attached thereto, shall approve or reject the application. If the
application is rejected, the applicant may request a hearing to offer
evidence why his/her application should be reconsidered.
Upon approval of the application for a driver's license by the Director of the Department of Public Safety, drivers shall be photographed by the Commissioner's office and a permit issued at the same time upon a payment as set forth in Chapter 155, Fees.
Every driver licensed under this chapter shall post his/her
driver's license, together with a rate card as hereinafter provided,
in such a place as to be in full view of all passengers while such
driver is operating a taxicab. The display of the license and rate
card shall be on the right side of the dashboard or affixed to the
back of the front seat and shall be properly illuminated so that they
are clearly visible at all times. Such card shall state that no additional
amount may be charged because of rain, snow, or other weather or other
conditions, or because of high demand.
The Director of the Department of Public Safety is hereby given
the authority to suspend any driver's license issued under this
chapter upon justified complaint of any person, including a holder,
for a driver failing or refusing to comply with the provisions of
this chapter, provided that such suspension shall not exceed 20 days.
The Director of the Department of Public Safety is also given the
authority to revoke any driver's license for failure to comply
with the provisions of this chapter, provided that a license may not
be revoked unless the driver has received notice and a copy of the
charges against him/her and has been given a hearing.
A.
Every driver licensed under this chapter shall comply with all City,
state and federal laws, the violation of which reflects unfavorably
on the fitness of such driver to engage in public transportation;
failure to do so will justify the Director of the Department of Public
Safety in suspending or, after hearing, revoking the license.
B.
If at any time within the licensed year, a taxicab driver has been
found guilty of a high misdemeanor, misdemeanor or has permitted his/her
taxicab to be used for any illegal or immoral purpose, the Director
of the Department of Public Safety may immediately suspend or, after
hearing, revoke the driver's license.
A.
No licensed shall be issued or renewed until the taxicab has been
thoroughly inspected by a designee of the Commissioner of Public Safety
and found to be in a safe and sanitary condition for the transportation
of passengers and of good appearance.
[Amended 10-21-2003]
B.
Every vehicle operating under this chapter shall be periodically
inspected, at such intervals as the License Inspector may direct to
ensure the continued maintenance of safe operating conditions.
C.
Every vehicle operating under this chapter shall be kept in a clean
and sanitary condition in accordance with the rules and regulation
promulgated by the License Inspector.
D.
Any vehicle on the streets of the City in violation of this section
may be removed from the streets by the Police Department. If the vehicle
is not returned to service in accordance with the provisions of this
section within 90 days, the Inspector of the Department of Public
Safety may suspend or, after hearing, revoke the taxicab license.
A.
Each taxicab shall bear on the outside of each rear or front door
painted letters not less than three inches, nor more than four inches,
in height, in contrasting colors, the name of the owner, association
of which the owner is a member or registered trade name by which the
owner conducts his/her business, and in addition, may bear an identifying
design approved by the Director of the Department of Public Safety.
The assigned number of each taxicab shall appear on each taxicab and
in the rear in numerals not less than two inches in height and in
clear view. No vehicle covered by the terms of this chapter shall
be licensed whose color scheme, identifying design, monogram or insignia
to be used thereon shall, in the opinion of the License Inspector,
conflict with or imitate any color scheme, identifying design, monogram
or insignia used on a vehicle, or vehicle already operated under this
chapter, in such a manner as to be misleading or tend to deceive or
defraud the public; and provided, further, that if, after a license
has been issued for a taxicab hereunder, the color scheme, identifying
design, monogram or insignia thereof is changed so as to be, in the
opinion of the Director of the Department of Public Safety, in conflict
with or which imitates any color scheme, identifying design, monogram
or insignia used by any other person, owner or operator in such a
manner as to be misleading or tend to deceive the public, the license
covering such taxicab may be suspended or, after hearing, revoked.
B.
It shall be unlawful and a violation of this chapter for any person
to operate any vehicle not licensed under this chapter in such a manner
as to be misleading or tend to deceive or defraud the public into
believing the vehicle is a taxicab or is being operated as a taxicab.
A.
It shall be unlawful for an owner or driver of a taxicab to charge
or cause to be charged, except as hereinafter provided, a greater
or lesser sum for the use of a taxicab than in accordance with the
following rates:
(1)
Zones.
[Amended 2-17-2015]
(b)
The base fares to be charged for travel in these zones shall
be as follows:
[1]
For all travel within one zone the base fare shall be $3, and for travel through two zones, the base fare shall be $6, and the total base fare shall be $9 if there is travel through all three zones. The additional charges set forth in Subsection A(2) through (6) of this section shall be added to the base fares, when applicable. For example:
(c)
Rate card. Each taxicab shall post in the interior of the taxicab,
on a card at least five by eight inches and visible to passengers
in the back of the cab, a rate card. The card shall set forth the
designation of the street boundaries for each zone and the base fares
for travel in these zones as established by this subsection. The rate
card shall state as follows:
|
Zone 1: Paterson Plank Road to 16th Street
| |
|
Zone 2: 17th Street to 32nd Street
| |
|
Zone 3: 33rd Street to 59th Street
| |
|
Base fare for travel within one zone is $3.
| |
|
Base fare for travel within two zones is $6.
| |
|
Base fare for travel within three zones is $9.
|
(2)
For each additional drop off or stop of five minutes requested by
customer in addition to charge to final destination: $0.50.
(3)
For each minute of waiting time: $0.15.
(4)
For all trunks, footlockers, or their equivalent: $1.
(5)
For all hand luggage in excess of two pieces: $0.40.
(6)
For all supermarket calls where driver has to handle packages: $0.40.
B.
The above rates cover one to five passengers to a single destination.
It shall be lawful for the owner of any taxicab to hire out
or rent such taxicab to a taxicab driver for use within the City for
a stipulated sum over a definite period of time, provided that such
hiring out or rental is made with a valid lease agreement in writing.
The driver of any taxicab shall, upon demand by the passenger,
render to such passenger a receipt for the amount charged, on which
shall be the name of the owner and driver, the taxicab license number,
the amount of the charge and the date and time of the transaction.
All disputes as to the local rate of fare, upon request of the
driver or a passenger, shall be determined by the police officer in
charge of the nearest police station. Failure to comply with such
determination shall subject the offender to a charge of disorderly
conduct.
Side curtains or shades shall not be permitted on any taxicab
licensed in the City.
No person, other than the licensed driver of the taxicab, shall
ride or sit in the front seat of the taxicab unless the rear is fully
occupied by the passengers except when, for physical or health reasons,
a passenger must sit in the front seat.
No holder or driver shall knowingly permit his/her taxicab to
be used for any illegal or immoral purposes, under penalty of suspension
or, after hearing, revocation of holder's or driver's license,
or both, and such other penalty as may be provided.
A.
Soliciting patronage by driver. No driver shall solicit passengers
for a taxicab except when sitting in the driver's compartment
of such taxicab or while standing immediately adjacent to the curb
side thereof at any legal taxicab stand.
B.
Prohibited solicitation. No driver shall solicit patronage in a loud
tone of voice, in any manner to annoy any person or obstruct the movement
of any person or by following any person.
C.
Picking up and discharging of passengers on sidewalk. Drivers of
taxicabs shall not pick up or discharge passengers in the roadway,
but shall pull up to the right-hand sidewalk as nearly as possible
or, in the absence of a sidewalk, to the extreme right-hand side of
the road and there pick up or discharge passengers. Upon one-way streets,
passengers may be discharged at either the right-hand or left-hand
sidewalk, or side of the roadway in the absence of a sidewalk.
D.
Cruising. No driver shall cruise in search of passengers, except
in such areas and at such times as may be designated by the Director
of the Department of Public Safety. Such areas and times shall only
be designated when the Director finds that taxicab cruising would
not congest traffic or be dangerous to pedestrians and other vehicles.
E.
Additional passengers.
(1)
No driver shall permit any other person to occupy or ride a taxicab
unless the person or persons first employing a taxicab shall consent
to the acceptance of an additional passenger or passengers; provided,
however, that an additional passenger or passengers shall not be accepted
if they are of a different sex than the passenger first employing
the taxicab.
(2)
No charge shall be made for an additional passenger, except when
the additional passenger rides beyond the previous passenger's
destination and then for only the additional distance so traveled.
Upon reaching the original passenger's destination, the driver
shall collect the fare, and the passenger shall be charged as if the
additional distance traveled was a new trip.
F.
Restrictions on the number of passengers. No driver shall permit
more than five persons to be carried in a taxicab as passengers. A
child under six years of age shall not be counted as a passenger.
G.
Refusal to carry orderly passengers prohibited. No driver shall refuse
or neglect to carry any person or persons, upon their request, unless
previously engaged or unable or forbidden by the provisions of this
chapter to do so.
H.
Soliciting business for other establishments prohibited. It shall
be a violation of this chapter for any driver of a taxicab to solicit
business for any hotels, motels, rooming houses, bars, taverns, restaurants,
theaters and the like, or to attempt to divert patronage from one
such place to another. Neither shall such driver engage in selling
intoxicating liquor or solicit business for any house of ill repute
or use the taxicab for any purposes other than the transporting of
passengers.
A.
The Director of the Department of Public Safety is hereby empowered
to continue to authorize the company stands that were authorized as
of March 10, 1960. The company stand shall be used solely by the company
to whom the same is granted and its agents and servants. No other
company or holder of a taxicab license shall be permitted to use the
same No additional company stands shall be authorized.
B.
Company stands shall be used by the different drivers on a first-come-first-served
basis. The drivers shall pull to the company stand from the rear and
shall advance forward as the taxicabs pull off. The drivers shall
stay within five feet of their taxicabs and shall not engage in loud
or boisterous talk while at a company stand. Nothing in this chapter
shall be construed as preventing a passenger from boarding the taxicab
of his/her choice that is parked at a company stand.
C.
The parking of any vehicle, other than licensed taxicabs, shall be
prohibited at taxicab stands legally authorized by the Board of Commissioners
of the City, and such stands shall be considered tow away zones for
any vehicles illegally parked at the stands.
All persons engaged in the taxicab business in the City operating
under the provisions of this chapter shall render an overall service
to the public desiring to use taxicabs. They shall answer all calls
received by them for services inside the corporate limits of the City
as soon as they can do so, and if the services cannot be rendered
within a reasonable time, they shall then notify the prospective passenger
how long it will be before the call can be answered and give the reason
therefor. Any licensee who shall refuse to accept a call anywhere
in the corporate limits of the City at any time when such licensee
has available taxicab(s), or who shall fail or refuse to give overall
service, shall be deemed in violation of this chapter, and the license
granted to such licensee, after a hearing, may be suspended or revoked,
and/or the licensee may be fined.
A.
Every licensee shall require their drivers to keep a daily record,
identified by the taxicab number of the taxicab used that day and
the license number of the driver, of the time and place when and where
each passenger was accepted as well as the time and place of the discharge
of such passenger, together with the fare received for the trip, which
record the holder shall keep intact for 180 days from the date thereof,
and shall be kept open at all times for inspection by a duly authorized
representative of the Police Department or Division of Licenses.
B.
Every holder shall record in a book kept solely for such purpose
the time of departure from the garage or taxicab stand of every licensed
vehicle, giving the name and address of the driver thereof, his/her
license number and the license number of the vehicle and the time
of the return to be garage or taxicab stand of each such vehicle,
which book shall be kept open for inspection at all times to a duly
authorized representative of the Police Department or Division of
Licenses.
Subject to the rules and regulations of the Director of the
Department of Public Safety, it shall be lawful for any person owning
or operating a taxicab to permit advertising matter to be affixed
or installed on the outside of such taxicab, provided that such advertising
matter shall not be of a political nature and provided further that
such advertising matter shall not be of a lewd, lascivious or obscene
nature, nor shall its location in the taxicab interfere with the comfort
of the passengers or the operation of the vehicle.
The License Inspector shall keep a register of the name of each
holder licensed under this chapter, together with the license number
and the make and description of each vehicle licensed, with the date
and record of inspections made of it.
Subject to the rules and regulations of the Director of the
Department of Public Safety, it shall be unlawful for any taxicab
to stand in any restricted area, in any area which is controlled by
parking meters or at the curb within 15 feet of the entrance to any
theater, hotel, restaurant or other public place.
A.
Parking and operation of taxicab. No taxicab, while waiting for employment
by passengers, shall be permitted to stand on any public street or
space other than at or upon a taxicab stand designated of established
in accordance with this chapter, nor shall any driver of such taxicab
seek employment by repeatedly and persistently driving his/her taxicab
to and fro in a short space before, or by otherwise interfering with
the proper and orderly access to or egress from, any theater, hall,
hotel public resort or other place of gathering.
B.
Responsibility for operation of taxicab. Every licensee shall be
responsible for the operation of the vehicle for which the license
has been granted regardless of the legal relationship between such
licensee and the driver of vehicle.
C.
Drivers to behave in polite manner. The driver, while engaged in
the operation of a taxicab, shall behave in a polite manner and shall
not use any indecent, profane or insulting language while engaged
in such operation.
D.
Permitting unlicensed drivers to operate. It shall be unlawful for
any person owning or operating any taxicab in the City, licensed under
the provisions of this chapter, to permit such taxicab to be operated
by any person who does not hold a valid taxicab driver's license
as required by this chapter.
Every driver of a taxicab immediately after the termination
of any hiring or employment must carefully search such taxicab for
any property lost or left therein and any such property, unless sooner
claimed or delivered to the owners, must be reported, in writing,
by the driver or holder to the Division of Licenses, with brief particulars
and description of the property, within 24 hours after the finding
thereof.
The Police Department is hereby given the authority and is instructed
to watch and observe the condition of holders and drivers operating
under this chapter. Upon discovering a violation of the provisions
of this chapter, the Police Department shall report the same to the
Director of the Department of Public Safety who shall order or take
appropriate action.
All hearings under the chapter shall be conducted by the Director
of the Department of Public Safety.
The Director of the Department of Public Safety shall promulgate
reasonable rules and regulations to implement this chapter and to
carry out its intendments, which shall be filed with the City Clerk
of the City. The Director shall cause the rules and regulations as
promulgated, together with this chapter, and any amendments or additions
thereto, to be printed and distributed to the holders of taxicab licenses
and taxicab drivers' licenses and to all those, who in the future,
shall obtain such license or licenses.
[Amended 10-1-2013; 12-3-2013]
A.
A limousine company/entity that has a principal place of business
in Union City shall obtain a license to operate that business.
B.
The entity must complete the license application and submit the following:
(1)
A license fee of $50;
(2)
A license fee of $10 per limousine;
(3)
An insurance coverage certificate for $1,500,000 for loss due to
bodily injury, naming Union City as an additional insured;
(4)
An application to be filed with the license inspector for a corporate
limousine license and payment of a fee of $50;
(5)
Proof of ownership or lease of the licensed premises; and
(6)
Proof that the premises can be used for a limousine business. A certificate
of occupancy or continuing certificate of occupancy or zoning certificate
shall be submitted.
(7)
Administrative fee of $175, per limousine to be licensed.
[Added 5-19-2015]
C.
The annual application for renewal of the limousine license shall
be filed no later than 30 days prior to the expiration date.
[Amended 10-21-2003]
A.
In addition to suspension or revocation of a license as provided for by § 386-7 of this chapter, any person who shall violate or fail to comply with the provisions of this chapter shall, upon conviction by the Municipal Court, be subject to a penalty of not less than $350 nor greater than $1,250, to be determined by the Municipal Court, unless a specific penalty is otherwise provided by this chapter.
B.
In addition to its authority to revoke or suspend a license, the
Department of Public Safety is authorized to enforce the provisions
of this chapter by the filing of a complaint in the Municipal Court.
This chapter may also be enforced by any police officer of the City
of Union City.
[Added 10-21-2003]
The following rules shall apply to all drivers and owners of taxicabs. Such rules, numbered sequentially below, shall be referred to by Chapter, Section and Rule number. They are set forth below as follows and violation of the Rules shall subject the violator to the penalties of §§ 386-7 and 386-38:
|
No.
|
Rule
| ||
|---|---|---|---|
|
101.
|
A driver shall be clean and neat in dress and person. A driver
must wear hemmed or tailored trousers that are no higher than midthigh
and have no holes. A female driver must wear hemmed or tailored trousers
or skirt that is no higher than midthigh and that has no holes. A
driver must wear a shirt or blouse, without holes, which, if it has
buttons, must be buttoned except for the top two buttons. The penalty
for violating this section shall be a fine of $25.
| ||
|
102.
|
A driver shall not smoke while carrying a passenger unless the
passenger verbally consents.
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|
104.
|
A driver shall not operate a taxicab for more than 12 consecutive
hours.
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105.
|
A driver shall, at all times, cooperate with all law enforcement
officers, authorized representatives of the Director and dispatchers
at public transportation terminals and authorized group-ride taxi
lines, and shall comply with all their reasonable requests, including,
but not limited to, providing his name and taxicab operator's
license number and exhibiting the rate card, trip record and other
documents required to be in his possession.
| ||
|
106.
|
a.
|
A driver, who knows or should know that personal injury has
been caused to another person or that damage has been caused to the
property of another person due to an accident involving the driver's
taxicab shall, before leaving the place where the damage or injury
occurred, stop, exhibit to such other person his taxicab operator's
license, motor vehicle driver's license and rate card, and give
to such other person his name, residence address, chauffeur's
license number, taxicab driver's number, and taxicab medallion
number, as well as the name of the taxicab's insurance carrier
and the insurance policy number. A driver, while operating a taxicab,
shall, immediately report to the owner of the vehicle any motor vehicle
accident in which he is involved.
| |
|
107.
|
A radio shall be turned on or off at the request of the passenger.
The passenger shall have the right to select the radio program. Whether
or not a taxicab is hired, a radio shall be played at normal volume
only and comply with all noise ordinances.
| ||
|
108.
|
An air-conditioning and heating device in a taxicab shall be
turned on or off at the request of a passenger.
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|
109.
|
A driver, while performing his duties and responsibilities as
a driver, shall not commit or attempt to commit, alone or in concert
with another, any act of fraud, misrepresentation or larceny, or perform
any willful act of omission or commission which is against the best
interests of the public, even though not specifically mentioned in
these rules.
| ||
|
110.
|
A driver shall not apply for or accept more than one taxicab
operator's license without the Director's written permission.
| ||
|
111.
|
A driver shall not permit any other person to use the driver's
taxicab operator's license while such person is operating any
vehicle.
| ||
|
112.
|
a.
|
A driver shall not permit the taxicab to be operated for hire
by another person who is not currently licensed by the Director as
a taxicab driver.
| |
|
b.
|
During the work shift, a driver shall not allow another person
to operate the taxicab or occupy the driver's seat, except in
the event of an emergency.
| ||
|
113.
|
a.
|
A driver shall not use or permit any person to use his taxicab
for any unlawful purpose.
| |
|
b.
|
A driver shall not conceal any evidence of a crime nor voluntarily
aid violators to escape arrest.
| ||
|
c.
|
A driver shall report immediately to the police any attempt
to use his taxicab to commit a crime or to escape from the scene of
a crime.
| ||
|
114.
|
A driver or any person acting on his behalf shall not offer
or give any gift, gratuity nor thing of value to any employee, representative
or member of the office of the Director, or any public servant or
any dispatcher employed at a public transportation facility.
| ||
|
115.
|
A driver shall immediately report to the Director and the Union
City Police Department any request or demand for a gift, gratuity,
free service or any thing of value by any employee or representative
of the Director, by any employee or representative of the Director,
any member of the Board of Commissioners of Union City, any police,
dispatcher or any public servant.
| ||
|
116.
|
A driver shall notify the Director in writing of the driver's
conviction of a crime or motor vehicle offense, excluding parking
violations for vehicles other than a taxicab, within 15 days of such
conviction, and he/she shall deliver to the Director a certified copy
of the certificate of disposition issued by the Administrator of the
Court within 15 days of sentencing.
| ||
|
117.
|
A driver shall not permit more than four passengers to ride
in his taxicab.
| ||
|
118.
|
A handicapped passenger, unable to enter or ride in the rear
passenger part of the taxicab, must be permitted to occupy the front
seat alongside the driver. If a passenger's luggage occupies
the rear passengers part of the taxicab, a passenger must be permitted
to occupy the front seat alongside the driver.
| ||
|
119.
|
A driver shall comply with all the reasonable request of a passenger,
including but not limited to, providing, upon request, his name, his
taxicab operator's license number and the medallion number.
| ||
|
120.
|
A driver shall not threaten, harass or abuse any passenger,
governmental officer, representative of the Director, public servant
or any other person while performing his duties as a driver.
| ||
|
121.
|
A driver shall not use or attempt to use any physical force
against any passenger, governmental officer, representative of the
Director, public servant or any other person while performing his
duties as a driver.
| ||
|
122.
|
A driver shall solicit passengers only while sitting in the
driver's seat of his taxicab or while standing immediately adjacent
to the curb side of his taxicab, and only with the words "Taxi" or
"Cab" or "Taxicab." This rule shall not be construed to allow any
solicitation or conduct otherwise prohibited by this chapter.
| ||
|
123.
|
A driver may not use another person, other than a dispatcher
at an authorized group ride taxi line, to solicit a passenger, nor
suggest to a passenger that an additional person be accepted as a
passenger.
| ||
|
124.
|
A driver shall not solicit passengers within 50 feet of any
bus stop, nor stop there unless hailed.
| ||
|
125.
|
A driver shall not pick up additional fares while the taxi continues
to be employed.
| ||
|
126.
|
A driver may not, in omnibus fashion, pick up passengers at
one or more locations.
| ||
|
127.
|
A driver shall not seek to ascertain the destination of a passenger
before such passenger is seated in the taxicab.
| ||
|
128.
|
A driver shall not refuse by words, gestures or any other means
to take any orderly and lawful passenger to any destination within
the City of Union City and a twenty-five-mile radius thereof. This
includes a person who is handicapped and any guide dog or other service
animal accompanying such person.
| ||
|
129.
|
A driver shall not induce the hire of his taxicab by giving
misleading information including but not limited to, the times of
arrival and departure of trains, buses, ships, ferries, planes or
other scheduled forms of transportation, the location of a building
or place or the distance between two points.
| ||
|
130.
|
a.
|
A driver shall not refuse to transport a passenger's luggage,
wheelchair, crutches or other property.
| |
|
b.
|
Upon request of a passenger, the driver shall load or unload
such property in or from the taxicab's interior or trunk compartment
and shall secure such compartment.
| ||
|
131.
|
A driver shall not sell, advertise or recommend any service
or merchandise to any passenger without prior written approval from
the Director.
| ||
|
132.
|
A driver shall comply with any request of a passenger during
the trip to change his destination or terminate the trip, unless it
is impossible or illegal for the driver to comply with such request.
| ||
|
133.
|
A driver shall take a passenger to his destination by the shortest
reasonable route unless the passenger requests a different route,
or unless the driver proposes a faster alternative route to which
the passengers agrees. The driver shall comply with all reasonable
and lawful routing requests of the passenger.
| ||
|
134.
|
A driver shall be required to accept United States currency.
| ||
|
135.
|
A driver shall give the correct change to a passenger who has
paid the fare.
| ||
|
136.
|
A driver shall give a passenger a receipt for payment of the
fare when requested to do so by the passenger; such a receipt shall
state the date, time, medallion number, fare paid, any other charge.
| ||
|
137.
|
A driver shall not ask a passenger for a tip nor indicate that
a tip is expected or required.
| ||
|
138.
|
If a passenger refuses to pay the metered fare, the driver,
with the passenger's consent may place the meter in the off or
"vacant" position, illuminate the "off-duty" light, enter on the trip
record the words "off duty" and the amount of fare on the taximeter,
proceed directly to the nearest police station, present the facts
to the police and follow their instructions for resolving the dispute.
| ||
|
139.
|
A driver shall promptly answer and comply as directed with all
questions, communications, directives and summonses from the Director
or his representative. A driver shall produce his taxicab operator's
license and DMV license, trip record or other documents whenever the
Director or his representative requires him to do so.
| ||
|
140.
|
A driver shall not knowingly operate a vehicle for hire unless
such vehicle is properly licensed by the Director.
| ||
|
141.
|
A driver shall comply with all restrictions endorsed by the
Director upon his taxicab operator's license.
| ||
|
142.
|
a.
|
A driver shall not operate a taxicab in the City of Union City
while his taxicab operator's license or his motor vehicle driver's
license is revoked, suspended, or expired.
| |
|
b.
|
A driver shall immediately surrender his taxicab operator's
license to the Director upon the suspension or revocation of his chauffeur's
license.
| ||
|
143.
|
A driver shall take all reasonable steps to safeguard his taxicab
operator's license.
| ||
|
144.
|
A driver shall notify the Director in writing of the loss or
theft of his taxicab operator's license within 72 hours, exclusive
of weekends and holidays.
| ||
|
145.
|
A driver shall not alter, deface, mutilate or obliterate any
portion of his taxicab operator's license or the attached photograph
so as to cause it to present false information, make it unreadable
or unrecognizable.
| ||
|
146.
|
A driver shall immediately surrender for replacement any unreadable
or unrecognizable taxicab operator's license.
| ||
|
147.
|
A driver shall submit four prints of a new photograph to the
Director whenever his physical appearance has substantially changed.
Substantial change shall include, but not be limited to, the growth
or removal of facial hair.
| ||
|
148.
|
A driver shall report any change of mailing address to the Director
either in person or by registered or certified mail, return receipt
requested, within seven days, exclusive of weekends and holidays.
Any notice from the Director shall be deemed sufficient if sent to
the mailing address furnished by the driver.
| ||
|
149.
|
A driver, while operating a taxicab, shall not carry a weapon.
| ||
|
150.
|
a.
|
A driver shall keep a trip record in the taxicab, make all entries
legibly in ink, and include the following information:
| |
|
1.
|
The taxicab's medallion number.
| ||
|
2.
|
His name and taxicab operator's license number.
| ||
|
3.
|
The license plate number.
| ||
|
4.
|
The taximeter's readings at the start and finish of his
work shift.
| ||
|
5.
|
At the start of each trip: the destination, the starting time.
| ||
|
6.
|
On completion of the trip: the date, time, specific location,
the amount of fare and all other entries required by these rules.
| ||
|
b.
|
A driver shall not make erasures or obliterations or white-out
on a trip record. The driver shall correct any wrong entry only by
drawing a single line through the incorrect entry. A driver shall
not leave blank lines between entries.
| ||
|
c.
|
A driver shall not rewrite a trip record either in whole or
in part, unless authorized by the Director.
| ||
|
151.
|
A driver shall not operate a taxicab unless all of the following
are present in the taxicab:
| ||
|
a.
|
The trip record also known as a "trip sheet."
| ||
|
b.
|
His taxicab operator's license in an appropriate frame
on the right side of the dashboard.
| ||
|
c.
|
The rate card assigned to the taxicab.
| ||
|
d.
|
Receipts for passengers.
| ||
|
e.
|
All notices required to be posted in the taxicab.
| ||
|
152.
|
A driver shall not obstruct a passenger's view of any of
the items required to be posted in a taxicab by these rules.
| ||
|
153.
|
A driver shall not operate a taxicab having any equipment, devices
or signs not specifically specified in these rules unless authorized
in writing by the Director.
| ||
|
154.
|
A driver shall not operate a taxicab without continual personal
inspections and the reasonable determination that all equipment, including
brakes, tires, lights and signals, are in good working order.
| ||
|
155.
|
A driver shall not operate a taxicab unless both he and the
owner or his agent if the driver's vehicle is not owned by the
driver shall, at the beginning of each work shift, sign and certify
on the trip record that the taxicab and its equipment are in good
working order and the items required in the taxicab are present. One
entry for a driver who owns the vehicle he drives is sufficient for
that vehicle.
| ||
|
156.
|
When a taxicab taken out of service for repair has been repaired
and if the repairs were made by the driver, he shall immediately make
a trip record entry showing the work that was completed, the shop
name and the time the work was finished. The driver shall carry the
work order or receipt with him while on his work shift and deliver
it to the owner at the end of that shift.
| ||
|
157.
|
A driver, during his work shift, shall keep the taxicab's
exterior and interior clean.
| ||
|
158.
|
A driver has the right to take a position on any taxi stand
having a vacancy, and no other taxicab driver may interfere with that
right.
| ||
|
159.
|
A driver may not occupy a taxi stand for the purpose of rest
or repairing his taxicab except for minor emergency repairs.
| ||
|
160.
|
A driver shall not overcrowd, back into a front position on
a taxi stand or otherwise cut the line. A driver shall take the rear
position on the line formed at such a stand, unless it is a relief
stand that has a vacancy.
| ||
|
161.
|
A driver may occupy a taxi stand only when he is on duty.
| ||
|
162.
|
The driver of each of the first two taxicabs on a taxi stand,
other than a relief stand, shall remain in the driver's seat
ready to accept passengers. Any other driver on such a stand shall
be no more than 15 feet from his taxicab unless he is off duty and
the required "off-duty" light or "relief time" sign is visibly displayed.
| ||
|
163.
|
The rules regarding taxi stands also apply to special taxi stands
and feed lines at air, rail, bus and ship terminals.
| ||
|
164.
|
A driver shall immediately report to the Director any taxi license
holder who instructs any driver to violate any section of this chapter.
| ||
|
165.
|
A driver shall not charge a fare in excess of that provided
for by this chapter.
| ||
|
166.
|
No driver shall permit his car when not in operation, to be
parked on a street within the City of Union City.
| ||
[Added 10-21-2003]
The following rules shall apply to all owners of taxicabs. Such
rules, numbered sequentially below, shall be referred to by chapter,
section and rule number. They are set forth below as follows:
|
No.
|
Rule
|
|---|---|
|
201.
|
An owner shall not dispatch a taxicab or for-hire vehicle not
currently licensed by the City.
|
|
202.
|
An owner who is not currently licensed shall not advertise or
hold himself out as doing business as a "taxi" or "taxicab" or any
name that would tend to confuse the public as to the owner's
license status.
|
|
203.
|
An owner shall not cause to be dispatched a taxicab or for-hire
vehicle unless the driver thereof has a current taxi operator's
license.
|
|
204.
|
An owner, while performing his duties and responsibilities as
a taxicab or for-hire vehicle owner, shall not commit or attempt to
commit, alone or in concert with another, any fraud, misrepresentation
or larceny, or perform any willful act or omission which is against
the best interests of the public, although not specifically prohibited
in these rules.
|
|
205.
|
An owner shall not use or permit any other person to use any
of his taxicab(s) or for-hire vehicles, his garage, or his office
of record for any unlawful purpose.
|
|
206.
|
An owner shall not conceal any evidence of crime connected with
his taxicab(s) or for-hire vehicles, garage or office of record.
|
|
207.
|
An owner shall report immediately to the police any attempt
to use any of his taxicabs or for-hire vehicles to commit a crime
or flee from the scene of a crime.
|
|
208.
|
The owner shall inspect, or cause to be inspected, the interior
of the taxicab or for-hire vehicle immediately after the termination
of each work shift.
|
|
209.
|
Property found shall be taken without delay to the Police Department
unless it can be returned to its rightful owner sooner than being
brought to the Police Department.
|
|
210.
|
An owner shall not dispatch or cause to be dispatched any taxicab
or for-hire vehicle from a public street or other public area if such
dispatch will prevent the flow of pedestrians and/or vehicular traffic
or cause inconvenience or annoyance to the public.
|
|
211.
|
No owner of a vehicle shall permit a person to operate that
vehicle as a livery or a limousine who does not possess a valid limousine
or livery operator's license issued by the City of Union City.
|
|
212.
|
No owner shall aid, assist, counsel, require, order, mandate,
suggest or in any other way knowingly cause a driver to violate any
rule or rules of this chapter.
|
|
213.
|
No owner shall permit his vehicle, when not in operation, to
be placed on any street within the City of Union City.
|
|
214.
|
No taxicab may be parked on any street in the City unless waiting
for a passenger.
|
