[HISTORY: Adopted by the Merchantville Borough Council 9-10-1945. Amendments noted where applicable.]
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
Includes any automobile or motor car used as a public carrier
for the transportation of persons for hire which is operated over
any of the streets of the borough not upon any established route or
routes and which accepts or discharges passengers to or from within
or without said borough.
Includes any individual, copartnership, association or corporation,
their lessees, trustees or receivers.
No person shall hereafter operate any taxicab upon any street
or highway of the Borough of Merchantville unless said vehicle is
licensed as herein provided and all provisions of the state law relating
to such vehicles and the operation thereof have been fully complied
with.
A.
An application for such license shall be made to Borough Council
and shall set forth the following facts:
(1)
The full name and address of the owner, lessee or bailee of the vehicle
to be licensed.
(2)
The make and character of the same.
(3)
The length of time it has been in use.
(4)
The number of persons it is capable of carrying comfortably.
(5)
The serial number and motor number of such vehicle and the place
where it may be inspected by the members of Borough Council or their
representative.
B.
If the applicant is an individual, said application shall state whether
or not the applicant has ever been convicted of a crime and, if so,
of what crime, the date and place of conviction and the punishment
therefor. If the applicant is a copartnership or a corporation, such
application shall set forth the names and addresses of the copartners
of such partnership, or the names and addresses of the officers and
directors of such corporation, and shall state whether any of such
copartners, officers and directors have ever been convicted of a crime
and if so, of what crime, the date and place of conviction and the
punishment therefor. Every such application shall be accompanied by
a fee of $25.00 for a single taxicab and an additional fee of $5.00
for each additional taxicab to be licensed up to three; beyond that
number there shall be a blanket fee of $50.00. Said license fees shall
not be prorated, nor shall any part thereof be refunded in case of
the refusal of a license.
[1]
Editor's Note: Former § 79-4, Citizenship required
for licensing, was repealed 5-27-1997.
No taxicab license shall be issued until the applicant therefor
shall have filed with the Borough Clerk, an insurance policy or certificate
of a company duly authorized to transact business in this state for
not less than $10,000.00 insuring against loss for bodily injuries
or death suffered by one person, and for not less than $50,000.00
for bodily injuries or death suffered by two or more persons as the
result of an accident occurring by reason of the maintenance or operation
of such taxicab, and for property damage in the sum of not less than
$5,000.00 for damage arising out of such accident. Any license issued
for such taxicab shall continue effective only so long as such insurance
shall remain in force to the full amounts aforesaid; provided, however,
that any applicant for a license for two or more taxicabs may file
with the Borough Clerk a bond or insurance policy for $50,000.00 in
a company approved by Borough Council, covering all taxicabs operated
by said applicant, and shall be for the benefit of any person suffering
loss, damage or injury as aforesaid: provided further, however, that
this section shall not apply to any corporation which shall have obtained
from the Commissioner of Banking and Insurance an order exempting
it from providing such insurance and shall file a certified copy of
such order with the Borough Clerk.
No taxicab license shall be issued until the applicant therefor shall have delivered to the Borough Clerk a proper power of attorney, in addition to the bond or insurance policy as provided in § 79-5 hereof, appointing such Clerk the lawful attorney of such applicant for the purpose of acknowledging service of process out of any court of competent jurisdiction, and the operation of such taxicab shall be permitted only so long as such power of attorney shall remain in full force and effect.
If the application for a taxicab license be granted, the Borough
Clerk shall issue to the applicant a card stating the name and address
of the licensee, the number of the license, the make and character
of the taxicab licensed with the motor number and serial number thereof
and the maximum number of passengers to be carried therein at any
one time. Said card shall be prominently displayed in the interior
of any taxicab so licensed (or, in the case of a fleet of cabs, in
the principal garage of the owner), together with a statement or schedule
of changes for the use thereof.
Every application for a taxicab license shall be verified by
the oath or affirmation of the applicant or applicants, if an individual
or a copartnership and, if a corporation, by the oath or affirmation
of an officer thereof.
No more than four persons as herein defined shall be licensed
to operate taxicabs in the Borough of Merchantville in any one calendar
year.
Every license issued pursuant to the terms of this chapter shall
expire at midnight on December 31 following its issuance, unless sooner
surrendered, suspended or revoked: provided, however, that if an application
for the renewal thereof be filed before said December 31, the operation
of said taxicab may be continued until the 15th of January succeeding.
Every taxicab shall have painted on both sides of said vehicle
the words "Taxi" or "Cab" in letters at least three inches high or
the name or trade name of the operating owner with the words "Taxi,"
"Cab," or "Taxicab."
After due notice and hearing, Borough Council may revoke or
suspend any license issued under this chapter for any of the following
reasons: if the licensee has been convicted of a crime in this or
any other jurisdiction or convicted of a violation of Title 39 of
the Revised Statutes of New Jersey, entitled "Motor Vehicles and Traffic
Regulation"; if the licensee violates any provision of this chapter;
if said licensee has made false answers in his or her application
for a license or a renewal thereof; if said licensee has failed or
fails to render reasonably prompt, safe, proper and adequate taxi
service; or if said licensee has not fully complied with all the requirements
of this chapter with respect to such license. In addition to the reasons
stated above, a taxicab license may be revoked or suspended if the
licensed vehicle is dangerous to safety or health or if the required
insurance is not at all times maintained in force or if said licensed
vehicle shall be used for immoral or illegal purposes.
[1]
Editor's Note: Former § 79-13, Violations and
penalties, was repealed 5-27-1997.
All ordinances or parts of ordinances inconsistent herewith
are hereby repealed to the extent of such inconsistency only.
This chapter shall take effect December 31, 1945, after due
passage and publication according to law.
