[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Commissioners of the Township of
Haddon 3-23-1982 by Ord. No. 722. Amendments noted where applicable.]
A.
The purpose of this chapter is to license, regulate and
control those automatic amusement devices which are operated for the purpose
of making a profit.
B.
The objective of this chapter is to regulate the business
of amusement devices so as to prevent nuisances to patrons and the public,
fire hazards from overcrowding, poor ingress to and egress from premises where
amusement devices are located, the promotion of gambling, loitering, the creation
of an unhealthy atmosphere for the youth of the community and other foreseeable
undesirable effects of such devices.
As used in this chapter. the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated:
Any automatic, mechanical or electronic amusement device, game or
device of skill or entertainment which is operated or set in motion by the
deposit therein of any coin or coins, tokens or slugs or the like thereof
purchased for cash, and including video-type games or machines or similar
devices that use a display screen for points, lines or dots of light that
can be manipulated to simulate games or other types of entertainment.
A.
No person, firm or corporation shall install, place.
maintain, operate or possess any coin-operated amusement device in any store,
place of business, building, public place or quasi-public place wherein the
public is invited or may enter, within the limits of the Township of Haddon,
without first applying for and obtaining a license for each and every coin-operated
amusement device to be installed.
B.
Notwithstanding anything contained in this section to
the contrary, there is hereby exempted from the aforementioned licensing and
fee requirements all organizations, associations and corporations not for
profit organized pursuant to the provisions of Title 15 of the New Jersey
Revised Statutes or otherwise, whose primary activity is religious, educational,
eleemosynary or fraternal.
A.
All license applicants must be at least 18 years of age
and shall submit a separate application for each coin-operated amusement device,
which application shall be filed, together with the appropriate fee therefor,
with the Municipal Clerk, and which application shall state the following:
(1)
The name, age and address of the owner and/or lessor
of the coin-operated amusement device and the name and address of the bailee
or lessee of such device.
(2)
A sketch indicating the location of the premises. approximate
interior dimensions and proposed placement within the premises of said devices
that are to be installed, used or kept.
(3)
The name and address of the owner of such premises.
(4)
Specific description of the type of coin-operated amusement
device sought to be licensed, together with its serial number or other means
of identification. All replacement machines shall be similarly reported to
the Municipal Clerk within 10 days of installation.
B.
The truth of the information submitted in any application
under this section shall be sworn to, and any willful misstatement therein
shall be considered a violation of this section and shall subject the offender
to the penalties provided herein.
Upon receipt of the application set forth above, the Chief of Police
of the Township of Haddon or his designee shall cause such investigation to
be made of the applicant's business and moral character as he deems necessary
for the protection of the public good. His investigation may include photographing
and fingerprinting of the applicant. If as a result of such investigation
the applicant's character and business responsibility are found to be unsatisfactory
and contrary to the public welfare, the Chief of Police shall deny the application.
If as a result of such investigation the applicant's character and business
responsibility are found to be satisfactory, the Chief of Police shall endorse
his approval of the application, thereby authorizing the Township Clerk to
issue a license for the operation of a coin-operated amusement device by the
applicant.
[Amended 5-11-1982 by Ord.
No. 728]
No more than six licenses shall be issued for the placement, installation,
maintenance, operation or possession of coin-operated amusement devices in
or about any single premises or location.
A.
Each device shall be located at least 10 feet from the
entranceway to the premises in which located and placed so that it does not
obstruct or interfere with the free and unfettered passage of patrons or users
of the premises.
B.
Each device shall have unobstructed perimeter zone or
distance of five feet around the sides of the three linear borders of said
device wherein the users of said device may use, watch or wait to use said
device.
C.
Notwithstanding the provisions of § 78-6 of this chapter, not more than 5% of the total area of the premises within which such devices are to be located may be used for the installation, keeping or operation of said devices.
D.
Each device may only be used or operated during the hours
of operation of the premises in which located and when the operator or an
employee of the operator is present in the premises.
[Amended 12-26-2006 by Ord. No. 1170]
The fees for applications for licenses and for licenses to operate amusement devices pursuant to this chapter shall be as set forth in Chapter 111, Fees.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Original Section 10, Transferability; Refunds, which
followed this section, was repealed 5-11-1982 by Ord. No. 728.
A.
License cards issued pursuant to this chapter shall specify
the location of the premises on which the licensed coin-operated amusement
device is to be used or kept, a brief description of the device, the device's
number or other means of identification and the name and address of the owner
and lessee or bailee of said device.
B.
All license cards issued pursuant to this chapter shall
be posted and at all times displayed in a conspicuous place at or near the
licensed device.
C.
All licenses issued pursuant to this chapter shall expire
on December 31 of each year. Upon the expiration of the license, the holder
shall surrender the license card forthwith to the Municipal Clerk.
[Amended 5-11-1982 by Ord.
No. 728]
It shall be unlawful to install, maintain and use any such coin-operated
amusement device for the purpose of giving, directly or indirectly, any prize,
return or profit for the use of the device. Any licensee who shall suffer,
permit or approve of the use of any coin-operated amusement device for gambling
purposes shall be deemed to be guilty of a violation of this chapter.
A.
Any person, firm or corporation violating any of the
provisions of this chapter shall, upon conviction for such violation, be committed
to the county jail for a term not exceeding 90 days or shall be fined a sum
not exceeding $1,000, or both, at the discretion of the court.
[Amended 4-7-1987 by Ord.
No. 819]
B.
Each and every day in which a violation of any provision
of this chapter exists shall constitute a separate violation.
