Manasquan Introduces Taxi Ordinance

The took the first step in adopting a taxi cab licensing ordinance on Monday night.

The governing body voted unanimously to approve the first reading of the ordinance, which had previously been a source of contention between council members.

The introduction comes some 18 months after Councilman Don Grasso took up the issue.

"I think it's the right thing to do," Grasso said.

Borough attorney Mark Kitrick explained that the council's law and code committee received input at the state level from the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission.

"We got positive feedback from there," he said, noting the MVC felt Manasquan's ordinance was consistent with state law.

"I also think it's consistent with case law in New Jersey," Kitrick added.

The ordinance will be up for public hearing and adoption at the council's Nov. 21 meeting. Should it be approved, it will go into place Jan. 1, 2012.

Similar to rules adopted in nearby towns, the law would require any taxi cab doing business within the borders of Manasquan to be registered with the borough for a fee of $50. Taxi operators would receive a certificate of compliance which would then be filed with the MVC.

A handful of taxi drivers who attended the meeting supported the measure as a whole, but took issue with a few of its components.

Manasquan will require taxi drivers to carry a minimum of $100,000 insurance on each car while other towns require policies in the $35,000 to $50,000 range.

Officials explained that the policy is in place to protect passengers as personal health insurance plans may not cover injuries sustained as a passenger of a taxi.

"That doesn't go very far when someone's medical bills aren't covered," Kitrick said of the $100,000 limit.

John Case, owner and operated of Squan Taxi, also criticized the decision to require cab drivers be over the age of 21.

"That is the state law and we carried it through," Mayor George Dempsey said, noting recently passed legislation at the state level.

"It's a shame," Case said, noting he would have to let several employees who are younger than 21 go.

In August, discussion of the possibility for enacting a taxi ordinance turned heated between Grasso, Dempsey and Police Capt. Elliot Correa.