[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Council of the Township of Old Bridge as Ch. VIII of the 1973 Revised General Ordinances. Amendments noted where applicable.]
It shall be unlawful for any person to solicit any passengers or fares within the Township without first having obtained a license from the Clerk or his designated representative.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
TAXICAB
Includes any automobile, motor car or other vehicle commonly called "taxi" engaged in the business of carrying passengers for hire which is held out, announced or advertised to operate or run over any of the streets or public highways of the Township, and particularly accepts such persons as may offer themselves for transportation within the Township. The term shall not include autobuses, public liveries, jitneys or other such vehicles which are hired by charter or for a particular contract agreed upon in advance or such public conveyances as are by law subject to state or federal regulations exclusively.
A. 
Taxicab owner's license.
(1) 
Any person desiring to obtain a license for the operation of a taxicab or taxicabs shall make separate application in writing to the Clerk or his designated representative for the granting of a license for each vehicle, which application shall be made on blank forms to be furnished by the Township and shall contain such information as may from time to time be deemed requisite to determine the fitness of the applicant to conduct the business and adequacy of the vehicle and equipment to be used.
(2) 
Every applicant for this license shall be a citizen of the United States and at least 18 years of age. No application shall be accepted unless it is accompanied by the full amount of the required license fee.
(3) 
The license when issued shall in no way be construed to permit an owner or operator to drive or operate a taxicab without a taxicab driver's license.
B. 
Taxicab driver's license.
(1) 
Each applicant for a taxicab driver's license shall be at least 18 years of age, a citizen of the United States, and the holder of a state driver's license issued by the State of New Jersey. Each applicant shall prove to the satisfaction of the Clerk or his designated representative that he is in good health with good eyesight and that he is able to read and write the English language and is of good character and that he has knowledge of the traffic regulations and geography of the Township.
(2) 
All applications for taxicab driver's license shall be made in writing to the Clerk, which applications shall be made upon blank forms to be furnished by the Township and shall give, in addition to the information required by this section, such further information as may from time to time be deemed requisite to determine the fitness of the applicant to act in the capacity specified. Each application shall be accompanied by the full amount of the license fee as hereinafter provided.
(3) 
Criminal history record background check.
[Added 12-12-2011 by Ord. No. 2011-17]
(a) 
Each operator or driver of the autocab for which the owner thereof is seeking the consent to operate in a municipality must submit to the performance of a criminal history record background check. The cost for the criminal history record background check, including all costs of administering and processing the check, shall be borne by the operator or driver of the autocab.
(b) 
A person shall be disqualified from operating or driving an autocab if a criminal history record background check required pursuant to this subsection reveals a record of conviction of any of the following crimes:
[1] 
In New Jersey or elsewhere any crime as follows: aggravated assault, arson, burglary, escape, extortion, homicide, kidnapping, robbery, aggravated sexual assault, sexual assault or endangering the welfare of a child pursuant to N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4, whether or not armed with or having in his possession any weapon enumerated in Subsection r of N.J.S.A. 2C-39-1, a crime pursuant to the provisions of N.J.S.A. 2C:39-3, 2C:39-4 or 2C:39-9, or other than a disorderly persons or petty disorderly persons offense for the unlawful use, possession or sale of a controlled dangerous substance as defined in N.J.S.A. 2C:35-2.
[2] 
In any other state, territory, commonwealth, or other jurisdiction of the United States, or any country in the world, as a result of a conviction in a court of competent jurisdiction, a crime which in that other jurisdiction or country is comparable to one of the crimes enumerated in Subsection B(3)(b)[1].
[3] 
If a person who has been convicted of one of the crimes enumerated in Subsection B(3)(b)[1] and [2] can produce a certificate of rehabilitation issued pursuant to N.J.S.A. 2A:168A-8 or, if the criminal offense occurred outside New Jersey, an equivalent certificate from the jurisdiction where the criminal offense occurred, the criminal offense shall not disqualify the applicant from operating or driving an autocab.
[Amended 1-9-2006 by Ord. No. 38-2005]
No owner's license shall be issued until the applicant submits the insurance policy or certificate in lieu thereof required by N.J.S.A. 48:16-3 covering the taxicab to be licensed and until the taxicab has been thoroughly and carefully inspected by the Office of Traffic and Safety, Department of Police, and found to be in a safe, clean and sanitary condition for the transportation of passengers. Each owner's license issued hereunder shall state the make, motor and serial number of the car licensed and license number of the vehicle as granted by the State of New Jersey. No owner's license shall be transferred from one vehicle to another. Taxicab driver's licenses shall not be transferable. All changes of residence on the part of the holder of any license issued under this chapter shall be reported in writing to the Township Clerk within three days after the change.
[Amended 1-9-2006 by Ord. No. 38-2005; 6-12-2006 by Ord. No. 27-2006]
A. 
Licenses shall be valid from January 1 of the current year to December 31 of the current year.
B. 
The fees to be paid for licenses shall be as follows:
(1) 
For every taxicab: $100.
(2) 
For every taxicab driver: $50.
[Amended 10-25-2010 by Ord. No. 2010-30]
Every driver or operator when in charge of a taxicab licensed under this chapter shall have in his immediate possession a valid taxicab driver's license, which license shall be exhibited at any time upon request by the Clerk, any member of the Township Council, any police officer, any duly authorized agent of the Township or any passenger.
A. 
The Township Council is authorized to designate by resolution or ordinance such places in the Township as public stands for taxicabs as it may deem expedient and proper and may give such direction regarding the places and position to be occupied as public stands as it may deem necessary to preserve order and promote public convenience.
B. 
No vehicle which is not licensed hereunder shall occupy any part of a public stand as so designated.
Every taxicab while occupying space on a public stand or public street shall be immediately available for hire. Upon request, no owner or driver unless previously engaged shall refuse or neglect to carry any orderly person anywhere within a radius of 10 miles of the Township. No owner or driver shall leave his vehicle unattended, or in any manner render the vehicle unready for immediate use while it is occupying space within any public stand or public street.
No passengers shall be solicited for any taxicab except by a driver duly licensed by the Township who is operating a taxicab licensed by the Township. No person operating such a taxicab shall permit or allow any person other than a passenger being transported for hire in or about such taxicab when in service as a taxicab.
No owner or driver of any taxicab shall induce any person to employ him by knowingly misinforming or misleading such person either as to the time or place of the arrival or departure of any train or bus, or as to the location of any hotel, public or private place, nor shall any such owner or driver deceive any person, make false misrepresentations to him or convey any passenger to any other place or over any other route than that indicated by the passenger.
A. 
Every taxicab licensed under this chapter shall carry affixed therein so that the same may be conveniently read by any passenger a card containing the name of the owner of the vehicle and the number of the owner's license.
B. 
Every taxicab shall have painted on both sides the words "Taxi," "Cab" or "Taxicab" or the name of the operating owner containing the words "Taxi," "Cab" or "Taxicab" in letters at least two inches high.
C. 
Every taxicab shall also carry in such a position an electric sign not less than four inches by eight inches by 10 inches which shall be illuminated and shall plainly show the word "Taxi" or the owner's name or the owner's telephone number.
D. 
The owner of an autocab shall cause to be displayed on the body of the vehicle the taxi license number issued to that vehicle. The number shall be three inches in height and located in the center of the rear quarter panels on the driver and passenger sides and the rear center line of the trunk of the vehicle. Each autocab shall display on each rear door of the autocab the name of the municipality or municipalities which have issued the autocab a taxi license in letters three inches in height.
[Added 12-12-2011 by Ord. No. 2011-17]
The owners or operators of taxicabs within the Township shall only charge the schedule of rates of fares for transportation within the Township or to points outside the Township as have been submitted to the Clerk with the application for a license and which schedule of rates has been approved by the Clerk.
The number of taxicab licenses authorized to be issued under the provisions of this chapter shall be limited to one such license for each 3,000 residents of the Township as determined by the latest federal census.
Any license may be revoked or suspended at any time for cause. When so suspended or revoked, such license shall not be reissued except for good and sufficient reason shown.
The Clerk may make such rules and regulations in relation to the operation of taxicabs and the conduct of the operators thereof as he may from time to time determine to be necessary and proper in the best interest of the citizens of the Township. Any violation of such rules and regulations shall constitute a violation of this chapter. Such rules and regulations shall not become effective until 48 hours after they have been promulgated and posted in a conspicuous place in the Township Hall and copies thereof mailed to the current holders of taxicab owners' and taxicab drivers' licenses.
[Amended 7-20-1992 by Ord. No. 26-92]
A. 
Definitions. For the purpose of this chapter, words and phrases herein shall have the same meaning as in N.J.S.A. 48:16-13.
B. 
Insurance.
[Amended 7-22-2002 by Ord. No. 35-02]
(1) 
No limousine shall be operated wholly or partly along any street in any municipality until the owner of the limousine shall have filed with the Clerk of the municipality in which the owner has his principal place of business, an insurance policy of a company duly licensed to transact business under the insurance laws of this state in the sum of $1,500,000 against loss by reason of the liability imposed by law upon every limousine owner for damages on account of bodily injury or death suffered by any person as the result of an accident occurring by reason of the ownership, maintenance or use of the limousine upon any public street. Such operation shall be permitted only so long as the insurance policy shall remain in force to the full and collectible amount of $1,500,000.
(2) 
The insurance policy shall provide for the payment of any final judgment recovered by any person on account of the ownership, maintenance and use of such limousine, or any fault in respect thereto, and shall be for the benefit of every person suffering loss, damage or injury as aforesaid.
C. 
Power of attorney. The owner of the limousine shall execute and deliver to the Division of Motor Vehicles, concurrently with filing of a policy referred to in N.J.S.A. 48:16-14, a power of attorney, wherein and whereby the owner shall appoint the Director of the Division of Motor Vehicles his true and lawful attorney for the purpose of acknowledging service of any process out of a court of competent jurisdiction to be served against the insured by virtue of the indemnity granted under the insurance policy filed. A copy of the power of attorney shall be placed on file in the office of the Township Clerk.
[Amended 6-30-1994 by Ord. No. 45-94; 7-22-2002 by Ord. No. 35-02[1]]
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. III).
D. 
License application.
[Amended 1-28-2002 by Ord. No. 01-02; 7-22-2002 by Ord. No. 35-02]
(1) 
In addition to the submission of an insurance policy and the power of attorney, the applicant must submit a valid New Jersey driver's license and a valid registration for the vehicle to be licensed. The applicant shall submit to a background check and being photographed and fingerprinted by the Police Department. The minimum fee for such initial background check, fingerprinting and photographing shall be $30. For renewal of fingerprinting and photographing, the minimum fee shall be $18. Fees are to be paid by money order made payable to the Division of State Police.[2]
[2]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. III).
(2) 
An applicant residing in an apartment complex must submit a current lease demonstrating Old Bridge Township residency. A letter on the apartment complex stationery must be submitted indicating permission for garaging of said vehicle on private premises.
(3) 
An applicant residing in a planned unit development must submit a letter from his or her housing association stating applicant is permitted to garage a limousine.
(4) 
An applicant shall be limited to one license per address. An applicant who wishes to obtain an additional license must submit a notarized letter from the garage or owner of commercial property where the applicant's additional limousine shall be garaged, stating the applicant is permitted to garage his or her limousine at such address.
E. 
Issuance of license to operate limousine; fees.
[Amended 7-22-2002 by Ord. No. 35-02]
(1) 
The clerk of the municipality in which the owner has his principal place of business, upon the filing of the required insurance policy, required documentation, and the payment of a fee of $50, shall issue in duplicate a license to operate showing that the owner of the limousine has complied with the terms and provisions of this article.[3]
[3]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. III).
(2) 
The license shall recite the name of the insurance company, the number and date of expiration of the policy, a description of limousine insured thereunder and the registration number of the same.
(3) 
The duplicate license shall be filed with the Division of Motor Vehicles before any such car is registered as a limousine.
(4) 
The original license shall be retained within the limousine and be available for inspection by any police officer in the state. In lieu of insurance information required on the license pursuant to this section, the owner of a limousine may affix to the original license retained within the limousine, a notarized letter from an insurance company containing the same insurance information required in the recital, which shall constitute proof of insurance coverage, and which shall also be available for inspection by any police officer in the state. A copy of the notarized letter shall constitute proof to the Director of the Division of Motor Vehicles that the applicant has complied with the insurance provision of this section.