§ 5.84.050. Taxicab/autocab driver's license

A. Application. Every applicant for a taxicab/auto cab driver's license shall, in addition to the requirements herein provided and of any law in the state:

1. Be twenty-one (21) years of age or older;

2. Present the required doctor's physical report to the borough clerk, evidencing that he or she has been examined within the last thirty (30) day period and that he or she is of sound physical condition, with good eye sight and not subject to epilepsy, vertigo, heart trouble or any other infirmity of the body or mind which may make him or her unfit for the safe operation of a vehicle.

3. Never have been convicted of a felony or any drug offense and shall not have violated any provision of this chapter.

4. Be able to speak the English language.

5. Be of good character.

6. Not have been convicted of driving while intoxicated or reckless driving within three years next proceeding the filing of such application and not have more than six points on his or her driver's license within the three years next preceding the filing of such application.

7. Have knowledge of the state motor vehicle laws and traffic regulations.

8. Have and evidence knowledge of the ordinances and geography of the Borough of Freehold. The borough may establish a written test to determine the applicant's knowledge of the streets and points of interest in the borough. If so established, each applicant must take and pass such test by completing at least secenty-five (75) percent of the questions correctly.

9. Furnish with the application three recent photographs of the applicant of a size measuring two inches × two inches.

10. Provide references or recommendations, including the names and addresses, from two responsible persons in the Borough of Freehold.

11. Provide to the chief of police a criminal history report with each application for driver's license and/or renewal to be provided at the applicant's own cost and expense. Instructions for obtaining the criminal history report may be obtained through the police department.

12. Pay a fee of one hundred dollars ($100.00), twenty-five dollars ($25.00) of which shall be a non-refundable processing fee in the event the license is not granted.

13. Provide to the borough clerk the following documentation with the application:

a. Social Security card or permanent alien registration card.

b. Birth certificate.

c. Valid New Jersey driver's license.

d. A certified New Jersey driver's abstract, dated no longer than one month prior to the application.

e. Within sixty (60) days of the issuance of a temporary taxi driver's license, provide to the clerk proof of having satisfactorily completed a state certified defensive or safe driving program within the preceding two years. Failure to do so will result in an automatic revocation of the temporary or permanent taxi driver license and, in the event the permanent license has not yet been issued, no such permanent taxi driver license shall issue. Any applicant who fails to provide the requisite proof of having satisfactorily completed a state certified defensive or safe driving program shall be banned from re-applying for a taxi driver license for a period of two years.

Satisfactory completion of a state certified defensive or safe driving program shall be effective for a period of two years.

Any applicant who is the holder of a CDL duly issued by the State of New Jersey shall be exempt from this requirement as long as the CDL is current.

14. Provide to the clerk a sworn statement setting forth the applicant's place of residence for the preceding five years, age, height, color of eyes and hair, place of birth, previous employer, marital status.

All applications for a taxicab driver's license shall be filed with the borough clerk who shall submit the application to the police department for review and to the borough council, after receipt of the report from the police department and the results of the criminal history report, and payment of all fees. The council shall act upon such application at the next succeeding meeting and any and all applications may be granted or refused by the vote of the majority of the members of the body present at the meeting.

B. Issuance of License—Content.

1. Upon approval of application by the borough council, the clerk shall immediately issue the applicant a taxicab/autocab driver's license. The license shall contain the licensee's name and address, physical description, signature and photograph.

2. Pending the receipt of the criminal history report and upon the recommendation of the police chief or the chief's designee, the borough council may, in its sole discretion, issue a temporary driver's license which shall expire in sixty (60) days in the event the final license is not approved before that date. The temporary license may be immediately revoked by the clerk, with no notice, upon the recommendation of the police chief or the chief's designee, or failure of the applicant to provide any of the requirements set forth herein. In the event the final police report/recommendation is not received within sixty (60) days, the mayor and council may, at their sole discretion, elect to extend the temporary driver's license for an additional thirty (30) day period.

C. Term of License/Fees. The fee for taxicab/autocab driver's license shall be one hundred dollars ($100.00) per year or portion thereof, twenty-five dollars ($25.00) of which shall be nonrefundable in the event the license is not granted. The taxicab driver's license shall expire on December 31st of each year. The licenses may be renewed annually upon payment of all fees and provided the driver meets all of the requirements set forth above.

(Ord. No. 2010/2, §§ I, II, 3-1-10)