[HISTORY: Adopted by the Mayor and Council of the Borough
of Somerdale as Ch. 100 of the 1973 Code. Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Amended 3-11-1992 by Ord. No. 92:05]
No person, firm or corporation shall hire out, keep or use for
hire or pay or cause to be kept for use or hire or pay any vehicle
commonly known as a "taxicab" or "limousine" within the territorial
limits of the Borough of Somerdale, in the County of Camden, without
first having obtained a license for that purpose. By definition, whenever
the term "taxicab" shall be hereafter used in this chapter, it shall
also mean "limousine," "limo," or "cab" or any other similar private-vehicle-for-hire
situation.
Applications for a license to operate a taxicab or taxicabs
shall be made by the owner, lessee or bailee upon a form to be furnished
by the Borough Clerk or his agent. Such applications shall contain
the full name and address of the applicant, the year, type and model
of the vehicle for which the license is desired and the number of
persons the vehicle will accommodate with a minimum of four passengers
and a maximum of eight passengers.
[Amended 9-12-1990 by Ord. No. 90:09]
The license fee for each taxicab shall be the sum as set forth
in the Fee Ordinance under annual individual taxicab license fee for
each year beginning the first day of January thereof or any part of
a year, which fee shall not be apportioned and is imposed for the
purpose of regulation. The fee for a fleet license (four or more taxicabs)
shall be as set forth in the Fee Ordinance for annual fleet taxicab
license fee.
No license shall be issued for a taxicab unless it has been
inspected and examined pursuant to the statutes of the State of New
Jersey requiring inspections of any said vehicles, and it must be
in a safe condition and maintained in a safe condition for the transportation
of passengers, and the applicant must obtain approval of the Mayor
and Council.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Former § 100-5, Number of licenses
issued, which immediately followed this section, was repealed 9-12-1990
by Ord. No. 90:09.
Upon approval and granting of a license to operate a taxicab
by the Mayor and Council, the Borough Clerk or his agent shall provide
a license containing the name of the licensee and the number of the
license, which shall be prominently exhibited in any taxicab licensed.
No owner, licensee or bailee of a licensed taxicab shall sell,
lease, rent, assign, transfer or in any manner whatever dispose of
a taxicab license without first receiving approval and permission
from the Mayor and Council.
[Amended 9-12-1990 by Ord. No. 90:09]
No license shall be issued until the applicant shall deliver
to the Borough Clerk a certificate of insurance, and said certificate
shall show that the applicant has insurance in the sum of $300,000
liability for one person and $500,000 liability for any and all persons
and shall have $50,000 property damage liability.
In the event that the insurance provided for in § 236-7 is canceled or revoked for any reason whatsoever, the license shall forthwith be revoked by the Borough Clerk or his duly designated agent.
The Borough Clerk shall keep a register of the name of each
person owning or operating a vehicle or vehicles licensed under this
chapter.
[Amended 9-12-1990 by Ord. No. 90:09]
The initial license fee and renewal fee for a driver of a taxicab
shall be as set forth in the Fee Ordinance for each year or part thereof.
The fee herein fixed for the issuance is imposed for regulation.
No application for a taxicab driver's license under the
terms of this chapter shall be issued unless the applicant:
A.
Is 18 years of age or older.
B.
Presents a certificate of a duly licensed and qualified physician,
certifying that the applicant has been examined and that he is of
sound physical condition.
C.
Is not a known addict of drugs or user of intoxicating liquors.
D.
Has not been convicted of a crime prior to the issuance of the license.
E.
Submits four photographs, front view, two by two inches.
F.
Submits proof that the applicant has been fingerprinted by the Police
at Somerdale, New Jersey, or submits proof that the applicant has
been fingerprinted and approved in the County of Camden.
Taxi stands shall be subject to approval and designation by
the Mayor and Council and shall provide for off-street parking, and
said taxi stands, telephones, radios or other communication for said
taxi stands shall be in commercial areas only.
Every driver of a taxicab who shall discover any property lost
or left in said taxicab must report to the Somerdale police at the
Borough Hall on Somerdale and Post Roads, Somerdale, New Jersey, with
brief particulars and a description of the property within 24 hours
after his finding thereof, unless sooner claimed or delivered to the
owner.
[Amended 9-12-1990 by Ord. No. 90:09]
Every taxicab shall have a permanent taxicab sign and be plainly
marked as a taxicab, and said taxicab sign shall be approved by the
Mayor and Council or its designated agent and shall be in operation
when said taxicab is commercially employed. Every taxicab shall have
on both sides of the taxicab the name of the taxi company, the taxicab
number and the telephone number of said taxicab company.
A decal, to be provided by the Borough Clerk, shall be placed
on the lower right-hand corner of the trunk of the taxicab.
Every taxicab stand shall provide twenty-four-hour service.
Every taxicab shall conveniently display a valid license for the vehicle, a valid license for the driver with a front-view photograph and the valid insurance card issued in compliance with § 236-7 of this chapter and the rate schedules of fares to be charged by said taxicab company.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Former § 100-19, Age of vehicle
limited, when immediately followed this section, was repealed 9-12-1990
by Ord. No. 90:09.
[Amended 9-12-1990 by Ord. No. 90:09]
The Mayor and Council of the Borough of Somerdale or its designated
agent may, in its discretion, refuse to issue or renew or may, after
notice and hearing, revoke or suspend any license of either class
if the applicant or licensee, within two years next preceding the
filing of an application hereunder or who, having obtained a license,
while said license is in effect hereunder, has been or is convicted
of a crime involving moral turpitude in this or any other jurisdiction
or of reckless driving or whose driving privileges have been revoked
in this or any other state or who violates any provision of this chapter
or has any judgment unsatisfied of record against him arising out
of an automobile accident or who has failed or fails to render reasonable,
prompt, safe and adequate taxicab service or who has not complied
fully with the requirements of this chapter for such class of license.
A.
The following rates, which will be charged passengers of taxicabs,
shall be filed with the Clerk of the Borough, and he shall be notified
of any change in the rates at least 30 days before such change shall
become effective:
B.
All taxicabs shall be equipped with and be required to use taximeters.
[Amended 9-12-1990 by Ord. No. 90:09]
Any person who violates any provision of this chapter shall,
upon conviction thereof, be subject to any combination of the following:
