[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee of the Township
of Mansfield 7-14-2010 by Ord. No. 2010-14. Amendments noted
where applicable.]
As used in the chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated:
Any person who drives or will drive a regulated vehicle.
Any corporation, partnership, sole proprietorship, association,
or person in whose name any regulated vehicle is registered with the
Department of Motor Vehicles and/or who operates or will operate any
regulated vehicle.
Any vehicle engaged in the carrying of passengers for hire,
including but not limited to taxicabs, limousines, vans, minivans,
omnibuses and all similar vehicles, but not including those public
conveyances regulated exclusively by state or federal law.
[Amended 3-9-2011 by Ord. No. 2011-03]
It shall be unlawful to maintain an office with vehicles for
hire within the Township of Mansfield unless said regulated vehicle
and driver thereof are licensed pursuant to this chapter. It shall
also be unlawful to hire out, operate, or park any regulated vehicle
within the Township of Mansfield unless otherwise licensed through
another municipality showing proof of same.
All operator's and driver's licenses issued under
this chapter shall be valid from the date of their issuance through
the following May 1. Renewed licenses shall be valid from May 1 through
May 1 of the succeeding year unless suspended or revoked.
Operators shall be required to pay the following license fees:
A.
The Township Clerk is hereby authorized to issue licenses for regulated
vehicles, and drivers of regulated vehicles licenses and driver's
licenses upon receiving notice of approval of the application(s) therefor
from the Mayor and Township Committee. The maximum passengers in a
vehicle will be one passenger in the front seat and two or three passengers
in each additional row of seating, depending upon the type of seating
available. Each driver's license shall set forth the dates said
license will remain effective and shall include a current and clear
picture of the driver, the driver's full name, the operator's
business name, and a brief description of the driver, including his
or her age, height, complexion, color of hair and color or eyes. The
maximum number of taxicab licenses outstanding at any time shall not
exceed three licenses.
[Amended 3-9-2011 by Ord. No. 2011-03]
B.
Nothing contained in this section shall prevent the renewal of license
in existence on the effective date of the section.
C.
Transfers; licensing of substitute vehicle:
(1)
No owner of any licensed taxicab or livery shall sell, lease, rent,
assign, hire, transfer or in any other manner dispose of such taxicab
or livery or any taxicab or livery business without notification to
the Mayor and Township Committee; and no owner of any licensed taxicab
or livery shall sell, lease, rent, assign, hire, transfer or in any
other manner dispose of any taxicab license without first obtaining
proper transfer of the license.
(2)
In the event that any licensed owner shall acquire a vehicle during
any license period which is intended to be used as a substitute for
one previously licensed, the owner thereof shall immediately notify
the Township Clerk, in writing, of such substitution and apply for
a transfer of the license from the previously licensed vehicle to
the one to be substituted therefor. Subject to the provisions of this
chapter and the payment of the transfer fee, the Township Clerk shall
approve the transfer of such license.
(3)
During the period subsequent to such notification and prior to the
approval or disapproval by the Mayor and Township Committee of the
transfer of the license to permit the operation of such substituted
vehicle, the owner may operate such substituted vehicle or cause the
same to be operated, subject to the other provisions of this chapter.
(4)
Nothing herein contained, however, shall be construed as authorizing
any person who is not presently licensed as an owner to operate or
permit the operation of any taxicab or livery owned by him, as herein
defined, prior to the granting to him of an owner's license;
nor does it authorize the operation by a licensed owner of any additional
vehicle for which no owner's license has been granted, pending
approval by the Mayor and Township Committee.
Operators, upon applying for a regulated vehicle license, shall
furnish proof of an insurance policy covering each regulated vehicle
in accordance with N.J.S.A. minimum coverage requirements for each
regulated vehicle are as follows: for taxicabs, at least $500,000
per occurrence; for limousines and all other regulated vehicles, at
least $1,500,000 per occurrence. Operators must produce proof that
the required insurance policy will be in effect and has been prepaid
for the entire period the requested license will be effective (usually
May 1 through May 1). Each owner shall also execute and deliver to
the Township Clerk the required power of attorney in accordance with
N.J.S.A. 48:16-1 et seq., as amended and supplemented from time to
time.
A.
Operators must provide proof that each regulated vehicle has been
inspected by a state-operated inspection facility.
B.
Operators must provide proof that each regulated vehicle has a garage
or designated parking space located on private property, as permitted
by law, where said vehicle will be stored when not in use. Written
approval from the owner or renter of said private property must be
produced. No more than one regulated vehicle may be stored at any
single residential property located within the Township of Mansfield.
The operators may request an exception for additional vehicles from
the governing body and permission may be granted on a case-by-case
basis.
C.
All regulated vehicles must have permanently affixed signs on the
driver and passenger doors setting forth the operator's business
name, regulated vehicle license number, the maximum number of passengers
allowed by said license, and the business office telephone number.
If the word "taxi" or "cab" does not appear in the owner's name,
then the word "taxi," "taxicab" or "cab" must also be painted on both
sides. The letters and numbers on said signs must be at least three
inches tall and two inches wide and must be clearly visible from a
distance of 50 feet.
D.
The schedule of fares to be charged shall be clearly and prominently
displayed in each regulated vehicle. The schedule of fares shall also
be provided with the annual application for a vehicle license.
All operators, upon applying for one or more regulated vehicle
licenses, shall be required to maintain a business office in any zone
permitted for such an office within the Township of Mansfield. The
address and telephone number of said office must be listed on all
regulated vehicle locations.
A.
Each applicant for a regulated vehicle driver's license shall,
upon making application therefor, furnish his or her existing driver's
license (nonprovisional) for a record check and three recent photographs
of passport size, one of which shall be retained by the Township Clerk,
another which shall be affixed to the driver's license, and the
third which shall be affixed to a card suitably framed under any transparent
covering such as plastic or other transparent nonbreakable glass covering
approved by the Police Department and displayed in a prominent place
in the interior of the regulated vehicle being driven. Said card must
also contain a brief description of the driver, including his or her
age, height, and complexion, color of hair and color of eyes.
B.
Each applicant for license shall provide proof that he or she is
either a citizen of the United States or has legal immigration status.
C.
Each applicant shall be fingerprinted for a criminal history background
check.
D.
Each applicant must possess a satisfactory knowledge of traffic regulations
and of geography of the Township.
A.
The drivers of all regulated vehicles must keep a written record
of each trip, including the date and exact time the trip commenced
and ended and the number of passengers carried. Trip records must
be maintained by the operator for at least one year and must be made
available for inspection by the Police Department of the Township
of Mansfield or any other law enforcement agency upon request.
B.
No person shall cruise on the streets of the Township at any time
for the purpose of soliciting passengers.
A.
All drivers will be held fully responsible for compliance with all
traffic, parking and safety regulations on the road. In addition,
all passengers will be required to enter and exit all regulated vehicles
through the door or doors closest to the curb where said passengers
are waiting for pickup or are being dropped off.
B.
Regulated vehicles that are registered with the state as limousines
shall not be allowed to solicit fares on the road and may only pick
up passengers who have prearranged said limousine transportation by
telephone.
The Mayor and Township Committee may refuse to issue a license
or suspend any license or revoke any license after notice and hearing
if:
A.
This chapter is violated in any particular way.
B.
The operator or driver has been convicted of a felony, misdemeanor,
disorderly persons or frequent or significant violations of Title
39 of the Revised Status of New Jersey.
C.
The driver fails to render reasonably prompt and adequate service
while driving a regulated vehicle, has contributed to injury or person
or property, or for other good cause.
D.
The regulated vehicle has become unsafe or unsanitary, or the policy of insurance provided for in § 306-6 of this chapter has been allowed to lapse and no substitute has been furnished prior to the effective date of said lapse.
E.
The falsification of any information contained in the application
for a license.
Except as required by N.J.S.A. 48:16-1 et seq., any operator
and/or driver found to have violated the provisions of this chapter
may have his or her license issued hereunder suspended or revoked
by the Mayor and Township Committee. Repeat offenders are subject
to revocation of all their licenses issued hereunder. Furthermore,
upon conviction of said violation by the Municipal Court, any operator
and/or driver shall be subject to one or more of the following: a
fine not exceeding $1,000, a term of imprisonment not exceeding 90
days or a period of community service not exceeding 90 days.