The owner of any taxicab business license in the Borough of
Penns Grove shall be responsible to ensure that any and all drivers
under his employ properly comply with all requirements set forth in
this chapter. The license owner's failure to verify his employees'
proper compliance with all requirements set forth in this chapter
shall subject the license owner to all of the fines and penalties
to which operators of taxicabs are subject and to be charged separately
and in conformance with the penalties enumerated under this section.
A.
The owner of a taxicab business license or the taxicab operator who is found guilty after a hearing in Penns Grove Borough Municipal Court of a violation of any section of Chapter 413 of the Code of the Borough of Penns Grove shall be subject to any and all fines and penalties set forth in § 1-2 of the Code of the Borough of Penns Grove.
B.
Summons and complaint. A summons and complaint citing a violation
of this chapter returnable in Penns Grove Borough Municipal Court
shall be served personally or by mail to the last known address of
the person charged with a violation of this chapter.
C.
Waiver of Municipal Court hearing. Any person, partnership or corporation charged with a violation of any section of this chapter may waive the court hearing thereon by pleading guilty to the violation and making payment to the Court Administrator of the maximum fine for the violation; provided, however, that a court appearance shall be required for any person, partnership or corporation charged with a violation of § 413-23, Issuance of taxicab operator's permit; display.
D.
Separate liability. Owners and operators of taxicabs shall be separately
charged with allegations of violations of any portion of this chapter.
No conviction of an operator of a taxicab shall result in an automatic
conviction of the owner of the taxicab for a violation of any portion
of this chapter. Similarly, no conviction of an owner of a taxicab
shall result in an automatic conviction of the operator of the taxicab
for a violation of any portion of this chapter.
A.
Taxicab business licenses or taxicab operator's permits issued
under the provisions of this chapter may be suspended or revoked by
the Borough Council if the owner of a license or the holder of a permit
has:
(1)
Violated any of the provisions of this chapter;
(2)
Discontinued operation for more than 30 days; or
(3)
Violated any ordinances of the Borough of Penns Grove, or the laws
of the United States or the State of New Jersey, the violation of
which reflects unfavorably on the fitness of the owner of the license
or the holder of the permit to offer public transportation.
B.
Prior to suspension or revocation, the owner of a taxicab business
license or the holder of a taxicab operator's permit shall be
given written notice of the proposed action to be taken and the charges
against him or her and, thereupon, the license owner or the holder
of a permit shall be given a hearing.
