§ 255-4. Taxicab driver’s license.

A. 

License required. No person shall drive any public hack, taxicab, automobile or other vehicle used for the transportation of passengers for hire unless such person shall have a license issued for such purpose pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.

B. 

Application for driver’s license.

(1) 

No taxicab driver’s license shall be issued to any person until such person has filed an application in writing setting forth his full name, his place of residence, age, proof of his physical ability to operate a taxicab and certification as to his good moral character, which shall include disclosure of convictions of any crime, misdemeanor or violation of any municipal ordinance, the nature of the offense and the punishment or penalty assessed. The application for a driver’s license shall be made in duplicate to the Borough Clerk on forms provided by the municipality.

(2) 

All applicants must execute the authorization by subject of request and privacy act notification area of Form SBI-212A or SBI-212B (request for criminal history record information for a noncriminal justice purpose) for a criminal history name search identification check pursuant to N.J.S.A. 53:1-20.5 et seq. In addition, the applicant must submit a cashier’s check, certified check or money order drawn on a United States bank in the amount of $15, payable to Division of State Police - SBI for the criminal history name search. The fully executed form and the applicant’s check or money order must be submitted along with the application for a taxicab driver’s license.

C. 

Photograph required. Each applicant for a taxicab driver’s license shall submit with his application therefor two recent photographs of himself approximately 1 1/2 inches by 1 1/2 inches in size. One of the photographs shall be permanently attached to the application, and the other photograph shall be affixed to the license so that it cannot be removed.

D. 

Age requirements. No taxicab driver’s license shall be issued to any person unless he is at least 20 years of age and has had at least one year of licensed driving experience.

E. 

Fee. The fee for a taxicab driver's license shall be $20.

F. 

Issuance of license. Upon receipt by the Borough Clerk of an application for a taxicab driver’s license, the duplicate thereof, the authorization by subject of request and privacy act notification and the criminal history name search fee shall be forwarded to the Borough Administrator, or his designee, who shall determine whether or not the applicant is duly licensed by the State of New Jersey to operate a motor vehicle and qualified to operate a taxicab, that he is able to read, write and speak the English language, that he is of good moral character and that he has knowledge of the traffic regulations of the State of New Jersey and of the Borough. The Borough Administrator, or his designee, shall also cause the applicant to be fingerprinted and a criminal history check to be completed. Upon the making of such an inquiry by the Borough Administrator, or his designee, and the completion thereof, he shall recommend to the Borough Council the approval or disapproval of the application for such license. The investigation and recommendation of the Police Department shall be made in accordance with the guidelines set forth in § 255-3C. The Borough Clerk shall present the completed application, along with the recommendation of the Police Department as to whether the license shall issue, at the next regularly scheduled public meeting. If the Borough Council so directs, the Borough Clerk shall issue the license to the applicant.

[Amended 9-10-2009 by Ord. No. 2009-14]

G. 

Term of license; renewals. All taxicab drivers’ licenses issued under this chapter shall be for a period of one year commencing on January 1 and expiring on December 31. Renewals for drivers’ licenses shall be made on or before January 1 of each year.

H. 

Display of license. Every holder of a taxicab driver’s license shall have such license, with the photograph attached, openly, clearly and conspicuously exhibited in the vehicle he is driving, which is to be placed next to the owner’s license.

I. 

Receipt for fares. Every taxicab driver shall, when requested. give a passenger a receipt for the fare paid.