[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Village of Nassau: Art. I, 4-4-83 as L.L. No. 4-1983; Art. II, during codification (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II). Sections 35-7A and C and 35-19A amended at time of adoption of Code; see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I. Other amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Curfew — See Ch. 50.
Zoning — See Ch. 120.
[Adopted 4-4-83 as L.L. No. 4-1983]
The purpose of this Article is to regulate the establishment of game rooms in order to determine that the premises containing game rooms comply with all fire, health, sanitary and building codes and laws and other applicable state and local laws, ordinances and regulations; to ensure that loitering, congestion and disturbances of the public are avoided; to adopt rules and regulations governing the occupancy and use of such game rooms; and to establish a schedule of licensing fees for amusement games.
This Article shall be known as the "Amusement Game and Game Room Law of the Village of Nassau, New York."
As used in this Article, the following terms shall mean:
AMUSEMENT GAME
Any mechanical, electric or electronic device used or designed to be operated for entertainment or as a game of skill by the insertion of a piece of money, coin, token or other article or by paying money to have it activated. This definition does not include:
A. 
A juke box.
B. 
Amusement rides.
C. 
A pool table.
D. 
Any device maintained within a private residence for use of the occupants thereof and their guests.
E. 
Any device, the possession or use of which is prohibited by law.
GAME ROOM
A room or place used principally for and/or containing more than three (3) amusement games and meeting the specifications prescribed by this Article.
PERSON
One (1) or more individuals or a corporation, partnership, association, trust, firm, trustee, receiver or assignee or any other legal entity.
PREMISES
Any room, building or place to which the general public has access or to which individuals have access with the permission of the person in control thereof.
VILLAGE
The Village of Nassau, New York.
No person shall place or permit to be placed upon any premises owned by him or under his control as manager, proprietor, lessee or otherwise more than three (3) amusement games, unless he shall have established a game room in accordance with the provisions of this Article.
No person shall operate or equip a game room in the Village of Nassau unless the person is licensed to do so pursuant to the provisions of this Article. Game rooms shall be allowed only in a GB District (General Business District) as a special use. Application to the Zoning Board of Appeals for a special use permit shall be made in accordance with Article XII of the Zoning Law of the Village of Nassau.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 120, Zoning.
A. 
Each application for a license hereunder shall be filed with the Village Clerk as the Clerk prescribes and shall specify:
(1) 
The name, address and telephone number of the applicant and, if a firm, corporation, partnership or association, the principal officers thereof and their addresses and telephone numbers.
(2) 
The address of the premises where the game room is to be operated, together with the character of any other business carried on at such premises.
(3) 
The name and address of the registered agent, if any, of the applicant, upon whom service of process is authorized to be made.
(4) 
The name, address and telephone number of the manager, if any, of the applicant, who shall be in charge of the applicant's game room.
(5) 
The floor area of the game room and the maximum number of amusement games which the applicant proposes to place in the game room.
B. 
The application shall contain a certification under oath made by the applicant or a principal officer thereof if the applicant is other than a natural person that the information contained in the application is complete, accurate and truthful to the best of his knowledge and belief.
C. 
If the establishment of the game room necessitates construction, reconstruction, alteration or remodeling of a premises so that a building permit is required therefor, the application required herein shall not be submitted until such time as such building permit, together with the necessary special use permit, is obtained by the applicant.
A. 
The annual license fee shall be as set by resolution of the Board of Trustees, the payment of which shall be the responsibility of the owner and/or distributor of the amusement games.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code; see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I.
B. 
The license year shall be from January 1 to December 31 of each year, and all licenses shall expire on the 31st day of December of each year.
C. 
The license fee shall be payable annually, in advance, and shall accompany the application for a license. Where the application is submitted on or subsequent to April 1 of any year or where the application is submitted on or after July 1 or where the application is submitted on or after October 1, the applicant shall pay a fee as set by resolution of the Board of Trustees.[2]
[2]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code; see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I.
D. 
The license may be renewed by the licensee by payment to the Village Clerk of the fee in effect at the time of renewal.
A. 
The Village Clerk shall, within three (3) working days of receipt thereof, forward a copy of the application to the Building Official for review and report.
B. 
No license shall be granted unless the premises in which the game room is to be situated meets all requirements of fire, housing, building, sanitary, electrical and plumbing codes of the village and other applicable village or state laws, rules and regulations or ordinances.
A. 
The Building Official shall review the application and, with the advice and assistance of such other village personnel as may be necessary, inspect the premises to ascertain whether the premises comply with the applicable fire, housing, building, sanitary, electrical and plumbing codes, state or local. The inspection and review shall be completed within fourteen (14) working days after the date of the receipt of the copy of the application by the Building Official or within seven (7) working days of the final completion of any construction, alteration or remodeling of a premises authorized by a building permit after, if necessary, site plan review. Within six (6) working days after completion of the inspection and review, the Building Official shall, by letter to the Village Clerk and a copy to the applicant, either authorize issuance of the license or deny the same with the reasons for such denial.
B. 
Within five (5) working days of the receipt of said letter by the Village Clerk, the license, if authorized, shall be issued by the Village Clerk.
C. 
If the license is denied, seventy-five percent (75%) of the paid license fee shall be returned to the applicant and the balance retained to offset the costs of the application review.
A. 
The license shall be posted in a conspicuous place in the game room.
B. 
All licenses shall be nonassignable and nontransferable.
A. 
The licensee shall not permit any individuals to bet or gamble on the premises in which the game room is situated.
B. 
The licensee shall, at all times, maintain good order and shall not permit any disturbance, congestion or loitering upon or outside the premises in which the game room is situated.
C. 
No game room shall be without sanitary facilities as required by local or state law nor contain any fire, safety or health hazard prohibited by local or state law.
D. 
No licensee shall refuse to cooperate fully with the Village Clerk, any law enforcement officer or agency or the Village Building Official.
E. 
Possession or consumption of alcoholic beverages, except upon premises licensed for on-premises possession or consumption, is prohibited.
F. 
The owner or operator of a game room shall not allow it to be open or used unless it is under the control and supervision of a person at least eighteen (18) years of age, who shall ensure that it is operated in compliance with these regulations.
G. 
No cash awards shall be offered or given in any contest, tournament, league or individual play on any amusement game.
A. 
If any person shall have on premises under his control more than three (3) amusement games on the effective date of this Article, the person shall apply for a game room license within thirty (30) days after such effective date. The utilization of the amusement games by such person shall be permissible without a license, pending a final determination through the procedures prescribed in this Article.
B. 
Reapplication for a special use permit shall not be necessary unless such permit was never issued or material changes are present in the maintenance and operation of the game room since the original special use permit was issued.
All officers of the Department of Police and the Building Officials are authorized to enforce the provisions of this Article.
A. 
Every license and/or permit issued hereunder is subject to revocation by the Building Official for the violation of any of the provisions of this Article. Any material misstated or omitted in the license application shall constitute grounds for revocation. The revocation shall occur only after a hearing conducted by the Building Official.
B. 
The licensee shall be given ten (10) days' notice of the date of such hearing, and such notice shall state the grounds therefor. At such hearing, the licensee may submit pertinent information on his own behalf.
This Article shall not have application to the possession or operation of amusement games by nonprofit corporations, associations or groups, unless the amusement games are available for use by the general public on a regular basis, nor to any premises holding a valid New York State liquor license where there is on-premises consumption of alcoholic beverages, unless the game room is maintained separately from such premises.
An appeal to the Zoning Board of Appeals may be taken by any person aggrieved by a decision hereunder pursuant to §§ 120-106 through 120-109 of the Zoning Law of the Village of Nassau.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 120, Zoning.
The operation and/or maintenance of three (3) or fewer amusement games shall be allowed without the necessity of obtaining a special use permit; provided, however, that such games are licensed in accordance with the other provisions of this Article.
Whenever a violation of this Article occurs, any individual may file a complaint. Such complaint shall be in writing and shall be filed with the Building Official. Such complaint shall be immediately investigated and a written report filed thereon with the Village Board of Trustees within thirty (30) days.
A. 
Any person or persons, firm or corporation violating any of the provisions of this Article shall be guilty of an offense punishable by a fine of not more than two hundred fifty dollars ($250.) or imprisonment for not more than fifteen (15) days, or both. Each week's continuous violation shall constitute a separate additional violation.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code; see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I.
B. 
In addition, the Village Board of Trustees may authorize the institution of any appropriate civil action, including an action for injunction, for the purpose of enforcing this Article.
[Adopted during codification[1]]
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II.
This Article shall be known by the short-form title of "Amusement Device Local Law of the Village of Nassau, New York."
For the purposes of this Article, the following definitions shall apply:
AMUSEMENT DEVICE
Includes but is not limited to the types of machines commonly known as "bagatelle," "baseball," "football" or "pinball machines," bowling machines and all other similar mechanical, electronic, coin-operated or manually operated amusement devices. This Article, however, shall exclude any devices when the possession or use thereof is prohibited by law. This definition shall not apply to vending machines, such candy, cigarette, soft drink or milk machines.
OWNER
The individual or individuals, partnership, company, corporation or association who or which places or by or under whose direction such machine or device is placed within the corporate limits of the village, whether or not legal title to such machine or device is in such individual, partnership, company, corporation or association.
PERSON
One (1) or more individuals or a partnership, company, corporation, association or society and any officer, agent, servant or employee of the foregoing who shall license, lease, rent or in any other manner distribute or who shall display, use, maintain or exhibit for public use or private use or patronage in the village amusement devices or who shall be in responsible charge of premises.
PREMISES
Any parcel of land, building, structure or vehicle or any other property or part thereof.
No minor, actually or apparently under the age of fourteen (14) years, shall be allowed or permitted to operate any device covered by this Article, unless the minor shall be accompanied by his parent or guardian.
It shall be unlawful for any intoxicated person or any person actually or apparently under the influence of alcoholic beverages to be allowed to operate any device covered by this Article.
No licensed device under this Article shall be operated or permitted to be operated for any use or purpose prohibited by law.
No amusement device shall be kept, maintained, used, exhibited or operated in or upon any premises within the village unless the owner of such device and the person upon whose premises or in whose possession and control such machine or device shall be kept, maintained, used, exhibited or operated shall first procure a license therefor as provided in this Article.
A. 
The owner of any amusement device or his duly authorized agent acting in his behalf, as well as any authorized agent acting in behalf of or any party that derives any income by virtue of an ownership interest in the amusement device, who desires to distribute, rent, lease, let on shares, lend or give away or place any such device for use in or upon any premises within the corporate limits of the village shall make a verified application to the Village Clerk for such license, upon blanks to be furnished by the Clerk, giving:
(1) 
The name and address of the applicant.
(2) 
The name and address of the manufacturer of the device.
(3) 
The manufacturer's number, if any.
(4) 
A complete description of the device.
(5) 
The method of the device's operation.
(6) 
Whether the possession and use of such a device is forbidden by law.
(7) 
The name and address of the person having responsible charge of the premises upon which the device is proposed to be located, kept, maintained, used or operated.
(8) 
The location of such premises by street and number.
(9) 
The nature, use and kind of business and the type of operation conducted thereon and the number of devices already licensed upon such premises.
(10) 
Such further or other information on the premises as the Village Clerk may deem necessary.
B. 
The application shall also contain a statement indicating whether or not any previous application has been made and whether any license has been refused, suspended or revoked.
C. 
The person upon whose premises the same is proposed to be located, kept, maintained, exhibited or used or operated shall join in such verified application, and, in addition to the information required from the owner or distributor as aforesaid, such person shall be required to state whether he has ever been convicted of any crime or any gambling offense against the laws of the state or of the village.
A. 
The application for a license required by this Article shall be referred by the Village Clerk to the Chief of Police of the village for his recommendation and his investigation. Such investigation shall include an inquiry by him as to the reputation and character of both the owner and distributor and the person in responsible charge of the premises upon which the device is proposed to be located, kept, maintained, used or operated and the character thereof and whether the possession and use of such device is forbidden by law.
B. 
The Chief of Police shall return the application within a reasonable time to the Village Clerk with his recommendation as to approval or disapproval.
No license shall be granted for any premises which shall be on the same street or avenue as and within two hundred (200) feet of a building occupied exclusively as a school, church, synagogue or other place of worship. The measurements shall be taken in a straight line from the center of the nearest entrance to such school, church, synagogue or other place of worship to the center of the nearest entrance of the premises to be licensed.
A. 
Prior to the issuance of a license required by this Article, there shall be paid to the Treasurer of the village by the owner or distributor of each device for which application for a license has been made the sum per year as set by resolution of the Board of Trustees, and there shall also be paid by the person in responsible charge of the premises upon which the device is proposed to be located, kept, maintained, used or operated for public or private patronage an additional sum per year for each device as set by resolution of the Board of Trustees, and the Treasurer of the village shall issue his receipt therefor for such fee received, but, in the event that the owner or distributor of an amusement device is also the person who is in responsible charge of the premises, it is the intention of this section that such person shall pay both of the above sums.
B. 
The license fee prescribed by Subsection A shall be the license fee due and payable therefor and shall be paid in advance at the time of the application as provided by this Article.
C. 
When application for any license under this Article is made after January 1 in any year, the license fee therefor shall, for the balance of the license year, be in proportion as the remainder of such year shall bear to the whole year, except that it shall in no case be for less than one-half (1/2) of such year.
The right and authority to issue a license required by this Article shall vest in the sound discretion of the Village Clerk or, in his absence, the Mayor. Any applicant who shall have been refused such license by the Village Clerk or, in his absence, the Mayor may apply to the Village Board of Trustees therefor at a meeting thereof, and the same may be granted or refused by the Village Board of Trustees.
No more than ten (10) amusement devices and one (1) jukebox shall be licensed at any one (1) time for any one (1) location.
Licenses are subject to a Review Board, consisting of the Police Chief, the Village Attorney and the Mayor, and are to be reviewed once each calendar year.
The license issued under this Article may be transferred by the owner or operator of the amusement device to another, so long as the machine to which it is transferred is owned by the same owner or distributor.
A. 
Each amusement device, while in any premises in the village, shall have exhibited in a visible place a tag or license, which shall have been issued by the village to the owner or operator of any machine. In no event may the license or tag issued to any owner or operator be placed on a machine by an owner or distributor unless he personally owns the amusement device.
B. 
In addition thereto, the person in charge of the premises where an amusement device is located must also have the license issued to such person by the Village Clerk posted in a visible and conspicuous location in the premises.
The license or tag issued by the Village Clerk under this Article shall bear a serial number, the license number and the name and address of the owner thereof.
Each license issued pursuant to this Article shall be effective for a license year, expiring on December 31 following the date of its issuance.
Each license issued pursuant to this Article may be renewed upon application therefor by the licensee and the payment of the annual fee for such license as prescribed by this Article. In the case of applications for renewals, the Village Clerk may dispense with the requirement of such statements as he deems necessary in view of those contained in the application made for the original license, and the Village Clerk may make such rules as necessary, not inconsistent with this Article, regarding applications for renewals of licenses and the time for making the same.
A. 
The Chief of Police may suspend any license issued under this Article until the next meeting of the Village Board of Trustees, and thereupon the license may be revoked or continued by the Village Board of Trustees.
B. 
Any license issued pursuant to this Article may be revoked for cause and must be revoked for any of the following causes:
(1) 
For the violation of any of the provisions of this Article.
(2) 
For making any false material statement in an application of a person for a license.
(3) 
For failing to disclose fully on the application the names of persons, associations or corporations who receive part of the proceeds of an amusement device in the village.
(4) 
For transferring, assigning or hypothecating a license.
(5) 
For the violation of any provisions of the Penal Law or any other local law of the village, criminal in nature, by the person in responsible charge of the premises upon which an amusement device is located.
(6) 
For the violation of any provisions of the Penal Law or any violation of any local law of the village of a criminal nature or any rule or regulation of a governmental body applicable to the maintenance, possession or use or operation of the licensed device by the operator, owner or distributor under this chapter.
(7) 
Upon the conviction of the owner or distributor of the device or of the premises in which the licensed device is located for a violation of Article 225 of the Penal Law of the State of New York with reference to gambling.
A. 
Within three (3) days after a license shall have been revoked pursuant to § 35-38, a notice thereof shall be given to the licensee by mailing such notice, addressed to him at the premises whereon the licensed device is located. Notice shall also be mailed to the owner or distributor of the device.
B. 
The holder of such license shall thereupon surrender the same to the Village Clerk. The mailing thereof by the holder of the license to the Village Clerk by registered mail or insured parcel post shall be deemed sufficient compliance with this section.
C. 
The Village Clerk, immediately upon giving notice of revocation, shall serve a written notice thereof upon the Chief of Police of the village. Such notice shall include a statement of the number of such license, the name and place of residence of the holder of the license, the location of the premises upon which the licensed device is located and the date upon which such license was revoked.
D. 
In case such license is not forthwith surrendered, the Village Clerk shall issue a written demand for the surrender of such license and deliver such demand for the surrender to the Chief of Police, and the Chief of Police shall immediately take possession of such license and return the same to the Village Clerk.
A. 
Any person committing an offense against any provision of this Article shall, upon conviction thereof, be guilty of a violation pursuant to the Penal Law of the State of New York, punishable by a fine not exceeding two hundred fifty dollars ($250.) or by imprisonment for a term not exceeding fifteen (15) days, or by both such fine and imprisonment The continuation of an offense against the provisions of this Article shall constitute, for each day the offense is continued, a separate and distinct offense hereunder.
B. 
Upon conviction of an offense, all licenses possessed by such convicted persons shall be automatically revoked and all moneys paid therefor shall be automatically forfeited.