[HISTORY: Adopted by the City Council of the City of Camden
4-9-1987 by Ord. No. MC-2289 as Ch. 205 of the 1987 Code; amended
in its entirety 11-24-1982 by Ord. No. MC-1910. Subsequent amendments
noted where applicable.]
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
DANCING
Shall not apply to exhibitions or performances in which the
persons paying for admission or other members of the general public
do not participate.
PUBLIC DANCE
Any dance to which admission can be had, either with or without
the payment of a fee, not including the operation of any restaurant,
tavern or similar establishment in which dancing may be merely incidental
to other operations; nor shall it include any private social gathering
held by any fraternal, charitable, religious or educational organization
and limited to members thereof, where such organization does not have,
as a primary purpose, the sponsoring or holding of such social gatherings.
[Amended 12-8-1983 by Ord. No. MC-1994]
A copy of the license application shall be served by the applicant
upon the owners of all real property located within 50 feet of the
location at which such public dance shall be held, together with a
notice indicating that any written objections to such proposed public
dance may be filed with the Division of Inspections on a date specified
therein, which shall not be more than 20 days nor less than 10 days
after service of the notice. Service of such notice shall be made
either by handing a copy thereof to said property owners or by leaving
a copy thereof at their usual place of abode or by registered mail,
return receipt requested. In addition, such notice shall be posted
in at least three public places located within 500 feet of the proposed
location of such public dance, such posting to take place not more
than 20 nor less than 10 days prior to the date specified for filing
objections with the Division of Inspections. In addition, during such
specified period, a copy of the application and notice shall be published
in a newspaper authorized by law for the publication of legal advertisements.
[Amended 12-8-1983 by Ord. No. MC-1994]
In the event that any written objections are filed, the Division
of Inspections shall schedule a public hearing on such public application,
giving at least seven days' notice thereof to the applicant and
to all persons filing written objections.
[Amended 12-8-1983 by Ord. No. MC-1994]
Within 10 days after the public hearing, if objections have
been filed, or within 10 days after the last day for the filing of
objections, if none have been filed, the Division of Inspections shall
either issue the requested license or shall forward to the applicant
the reasons for the denial of the application.
[Amended 12-8-1983 by Ord. No. MC-1994]
No license shall be issued under this chapter unless the premises
sought to be licensed comply with and conform to all federal and state
laws and the ordinances and regulations of the City and are properly
ventilated, supplied with sufficient toilet conveniences and are in
the judgment of the Division of Inspections, a safe and proper place
for the purposes for which they are to be used.
[Amended 4-9-1987 by Ord. No. MC-2289]
As a condition of issuance of a license under this chapter,
the applicant must demonstrate the ability to provide adequate security
for the duration of any dance to be held. Such application shall be
referred to the Chief of Police, who shall make recommendations with
regard to the requirements of this chapter.
No licensee shall operate, conduct or carry on, or permit to
be operated, conducted or carried on, in or about any building, grounds
or other place licensed under this chapter, any game of chance or
gambling device or devices.
No alcoholic beverages shall be sold, served, delivered or consumed,
nor shall any licensee suffer or permit the sale, service, delivery
or consumption of any alcoholic beverages, upon the premises licensed
under this chapter, directly or indirectly, before, during or after
any amusement activity open to the public, provided that this section
shall not apply to premises licensed pursuant to N.J.S.A. 33:1-1 et
seq. and the provisions of this Code implementing N.J.S.A. 33:1-1
et seq.
[Amended 12-8-1983 by Ord. No. MC-1994]
Notwithstanding any other provisions of this chapter, the Division
of Inspections may issue special one-night permits to any fraternal,
social, charitable, religious or educational organization to sponsor
any public dance, either at any public dance hall licensed hereunder
or at some other place in the City, to be designated in said permit.
All public dance halls shall be, at all times, kept in a clean
and sanitary condition, and all rooms, stairways and other passages
used in connection therewith shall be kept sanitary and well lighted.
[Amended 12-8-1983 by Ord. No. MC-1994]
It shall be the duty of the Division of Inspections to order
and cause any dance hall or place where any public dance is held to
be vacated whenever, in its judgment, any provision of this chapter
is being violated therein, whenever indecent acts shall be permitted
therein or whenever any disorder shall take place therein.
Dancing shall not be permitted to continue in any public dance
hall, building or place between 3:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. of any day.
This prohibition shall apply to licensees, attendants and patrons.
[Added 4-9-1987 by Ord. No. MC-2289]
It shall be unlawful for any person, as defined in §
485-1, to engage in the activity identified and regulated by this chapter, without first having obtained a license therefor and paid the fee required for such license, both as provided in Chapter
485, Licenses and Business Regulations. Any person engaging in such activity who shall fail to comply with any provision of this chapter or of Chapter
485 shall be in violation of the provisions of this chapter.
[Added 4-9-1987 by Ord. No. MC-2289]
A. Unless otherwise provided in the chapter, penalties against persons violating the provisions of this chapter shall be imposed in accordance with the provisions of §
1-15.
[Amended 10-12-2006 by Ord. No. MC-4234]
B. A separate offense shall be deemed committed on each and every day
for each and every violation of this chapter.
C. A separate offense shall be deemed committed on each day during or
on which a violation or violations occur or continue.
D. The imposition of a fine or imprisonment as punishment for a violation of any provision of this chapter shall not be deemed to be in lieu of any provision of this chapter or of Chapter
485 providing for revocation or suspension of any license issued under this chapter and Chapter
485.