Township of North Versailles, PA Amusement Devices

Ordinance No. 817 is hereby repealed, as are all other ordinances or parts of ordinances insofar as they conflict with the provisions of this chapter; however, such repeal shall not affect any act done or any liability or violation accrued under any such prior ordinance herein repealed or superseded, and all such liabilities or violations shall continue and may be enforced in the same manner as if such repeal or supersession had not been made; and any offense or violation committed and any penalty or forfeiture incurred under such ordinance herein repealed or superseded may be prosecuted in the same manner as if this chapter had not been approved.

§ 88-3 Word usage; construction.

In the construction of this chapter, the rules and definitions contained in this section shall be observed and applied, except when the context clearly indicates otherwise.

Words used in the singular shall include the plural, and the plural the singular.

Words used in the past or present tense shall include the future tense.

Words used in the masculine gender shall include the feminine and neuter.

The word "shall" is always mandatory and is not discretionary.

The word "may" is permissive.

North Versailles Township intends to favor the public interest as against any private interest.

The headings prefixed to sections and other divisions of this chapter shall not be considered to control but may be used to aid in the construction thereof.

General words shall be construed to take their meanings and be restricted by preceding particular words.

§ 88-4 Definitions.

Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the following words and phrases, used in this chapter or in an application for license of amusement devices, shall have the meaning given to them in this section.

AMUSEMENT DEVICE

The amusement devices and apparatus to be covered by this chapter shall be divided into three classes.

[Amended 7-19-2012 by Ord. No. 1068]

Class I. Class I devices include poker machines, video slot machines, video sweepstakes machines, and any other type of purely amusement wagering/gaming device permitted by law.

Class II. Class II devices include machines which offer prizes for amusement such as stuffed animals, toys, candy or other items.

Class III. Class III devices include machines and apparatus used for entertainment and public participation for sport which includes, but is not limited to, darts, jukeboxes, pool tables, pinball machines, shuffleboard machines and children's video games.

APPLICANT

Any individual, partnership or corporation who seeks to obtain a license for an amusement device under this chapter.

APPLICATION FOR LICENSE OF AMUSEMENT DEVICES

The document filed by an applicant requesting a permit to possess in the Township of North Versailles any video or mechanical amusement device, and/or other electronic device, machine or apparatus whatsoever, for the playing of games and amusement.

BUSINESS ESTABLISHMENT

Any restaurant, bar, tavern, retail, manufacturing, wholesale, institutional, educational, religious, governmental or other nonresidential establishment, store or business, whether or not in operation.

GAMBLING DEVICE

Any device, machine or apparatus used for the playing of poker, blackjack, keno, bingo or other casino games by the insertion therein of any coin, currency, metal disc, slug or token.

ILLEGAL GAMBLING DEVICE

Any device, machine or apparatus designed and/or specifically equipped to be used for the playing of poker, blackjack, keno, bingo, slots or other casino gambling games by the insertion therein of any coin, currency, metal disc, slug or token, which has, or is designed to facilitate the ready use of, a knock-off or knockdown device or other capability for erasing or eliminating accumulated playing credits.

PROPRIETOR

Any individual, partnership or corporation who owns, leases or maintains the business establishment in which any video or mechanical amusement device is placed for the use, patronage, recreation or amusement of the public or of persons in or about the business establishment.

VENDOR

Any individual, partnership or corporation who is the lawful owner of any video or mechanical amusement device for which a license is sought under this chapter, or any individual, partnership or corporation who makes, assembles, sets up, maintains, sells, lends, leases, gives away, or offers for sale, loan, lease or gift, any video or mechanical amusement device for which a license is sought under this chapter.

VIDEO OR MECHANICAL AMUSEMENT DEVICE

Any device, machine or apparatus used for the playing of games or otherwise used for the purpose of amusement or entertainment by the insertion therein of any coin, currency, metal disc, slug or token, including but not limited to claw machines, electric or electronic dart boards, gambling devices, pinball machines, and video games.

§ 88-5 License required.

No person, firm, partnership, corporation or other entity shall at any time have in his possession, within the Township of North Versailles, any video or mechanical amusement device for the playing of games and amusement without first having procured a license therefor as hereinafter provided in this chapter.

§ 88-6 Application for license.

Any person, firm, corporation or other entity, desiring to procure a license as required in § 88-5 of this chapter, shall apply therefor in writing to the Township Secretary. Said application shall set forth the following information:

The name and residence of the vendor of each video or mechanical amusement device to be licensed;

The name and residence of the proprietor of the business establishment in which each video or mechanical amusement device is to be located, used or installed;

If vendor and/or proprietor are citizens of the United States;

The manufacturer, name of machine, serial number, type and fee for each machine, video or mechanical device, or apparatus to be located on the premises, installed or used;

A verification by the vendor and proprietor that the facts set forth in the application are true and correct to the vendor's and proprietor's personal knowledge information or belief, and that any false statements therein are made subject to the penalties of the Crimes Code, 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 4904, relating to unsworn falsification to authorities;

That the vendor and proprietor have been provided a copy of this chapter and that he/they have read and agree to be bound by all terms and provisions hereof;

That a license does not sanction or condone the use or possession of any illegal gambling device, whether illegal per se or as modified;

That the legal use or possession of an unlawful gambling device, either per se or as modified, may result in a criminal prosecution by law enforcement officials.

§ 88-7 Persons ineligible for licenses.

The Township Secretary shall not issue a license for any video or mechanical amusement device to any person who:

Is not a citizen of the United States;

Is not 21 years of age;

Has been found guilty of or accepted accelerated rehabilitative disposition for possessing or using a video or mechanical amusement device in violation of the Crimes Code of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania[1] within three years of the date of application.

[1]

Editor's Note: See 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 101 et seq.

§ 88-8 Conditions for issuance.

No license shall be granted until a period of 10 days shall have elapsed from the date of application during which time the Township Secretary may, at his or her discretion, investigate the facts set forth in the application.

The Township Secretary shall refuse to issue a license for any device that the applicant has not affirmed is not designed, or intended to be used, for gambling purposes.

A license shall not be issued unless the applicant acknowledges:

(1)

That obtaining or displaying Township license does not sanction or permit the use of any device for gambling purposes or possession of an illegal gambling device, either per se or as modified;

(2)

That if the applicant or licensee illegally uses or possesses an unlawful gambling device, either per se or as modified, he may be prosecuted by North Versailles Township or other law enforcement officials.

§ 88-9 Construal of provisions.

Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to authorize, license or permit any gambling devices whatsoever, or any mechanism that has been judicially determined to be a gambling device, either per se or as modified, or in any way contrary to law, or that may be contrary to any future laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania or the United States of America.

§ 88-10 License fees.

No license shall be issued until the following annual fees shall have been paid by the applicant to the Township Secretary for each and every device to be installed or used.

(1)

The annual license fees are as follows:

Class I: $500.

Class II: $250.

Class III: $50.

These license fees may be changed from time to time by the North Versailles Township Board of Commissioners in their sole discretion as they see fit by simple resolution.

The above annual fees paid shall be a license fee until December 31 of each year; except, however, should any such device be installed after July 1 of any year, and an application therefor is made after such date: then in such event, the license fee for that particular year until December 31 is as follows:

§ 88-11 Issuance and display.

Upon the payment of the license fee provided by this chapter, and if the application fully complies with this chapter, the Township Secretary shall issue a disc, plate, or sticker setting forth the number of the license for each machine so licensed, and said disc, plate or sticker shall be attached and fastened to the respective machine or device so that the same may be clearly observable and readable. Discs, plates or stickers issued for a particular machine or device are not transferable to another machine or device. All discs, plates or stickers issued by the Township for video and mechanical amusement devices shall state that the video or mechanical amusement device is for amusement purposes only, that it is not a gambling device and that only games and not money may be won on the machine or device.

§ 88-12 Inspection.

The Township or its agents may, during regular business hours, conduct inspections of any business establishment where any video or mechanical amusement device licensed under this chapter is located, installed, placed or used, to ensure compliance with this chapter.

§ 88-13 Revocation, debarment and contraband declaration.

In the event any applicant, vendor or proprietor falsifies any information on an application for license of amusement devices, or violates this chapter, the Township shall immediately revoke all licenses issued under this chapter to such applicant, vendor or proprietor.

Moreover, in the event a vendor or a video or mechanical amusement device or a proprietor of a business establishment is convicted of possessing or using a video or mechanical amusement device in violation of the Crimes Code of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the Township shall revoke each license issued to such person as an applicant, vendor, or proprietor.

Additionally, the Township shall not issue a license of amusement devices to any person who has been found guilty of or accepted accelerated rehabilitative disposition for possessing or using a video or mechanical amusement device in violation of the Crimes Code of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania within three years of the date of application.

Any video or mechanical amusement device used or possessed in violation or the Crimes Code of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, or this chapter, may be deemed contraband and forfeited in accordance with the provisions set forth in 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 6501(d) (relating to scattering rubbish).

§ 88-14 Suggestion of nonprosecution prohibited.

Because the Township intends to foster compliance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the United States regarding illegal possession and/or use of gambling devices, no Township employee or agent may promise, suggest or insinuate, either expressly or by implication, that the applicant, licensee, proprietor or vendor who illegally uses or possesses any device used or intended to be used for gambling purposes shall not be prosecuted.

§ 88-15 Violations and penalties.

For each and every violation of the provisions of this chapter, any person or persons, firm, partnership or corporation, violating any of the provisions of the chapter shall constitute a summary offense, and upon conviction by the issuing authority for the magisterial district which includes the Township of North Versailles, be sentenced to pay a fine of not less than $50 nor more than $600, and costs of prosecution, and in default or payment thereof may be committed by the issuing authority to the Allegheny County Jail in conformity with the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure for a period not to exceed 10 days. Each and every day that any machine or device is used and operated in violation hereof shall constitute a separate and distinct offense under this chapter and shall be subject to separate and distinct penalties hereunder.