[HISTORY: Adopted by the Mayor and Council of the Borough
of Wood-Ridge as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted
where applicable.]
[Adopted 12-26-1975 by Ord. No. 700 as § 4-7 of
the 1975 Revised General Ordinances (Ch. 94 of the 1986 Code)]
No person shall install, place, maintain, operate or possess
in any store, building or place wherein the public is invited or may
enter or wherein any club or organization meets or maintains quarters
any automatic or mechanical machine, game or device of skill or entertainment,
music-vending machine, motion-picture machine and television machine
which is operated or set in motion by the deposit therein of any coin,
token or slug or the like, which is purchased for cash within the
Borough, without first applying and obtaining a license therefor.
[Amended 1-1-1982 by Ord. No. 10-81]
A separate application for each machine, game or device shall be filed with the Chief of Police, addressed to the Borough Council and, in addition to the requirements of § 343-2, shall contain the name and address of the bailee and the age of the owner. Each application shall be accompanied by the fee as set forth in § 183-4 herein.
Upon receiving any application, the Chief of Police shall make
an examination of the place and machine and shall forward the application
with the license fee and his recommendation to the Borough Clerk,
who shall present it to the Borough Council for approval or disapproval.
The initial license fee for each game or machine licensed is
$250. Said fee shall be payable upon filing of the application. For
each application denied, the Borough shall retain 50% of the application
fee for administrative expenses and return the balance to the applicant.
No license issued pursuant to this article shall be transferable,
and no license fee shall be refunded upon the revocation or surrender
of any license.
Each machine, game or device shall be separately licensed, and
the license shall describe the machine, game or device generally,
set forth its license fee and contain the name and address of its
owner and bailee.
When the licensee is a bailee of the machine, game or device,
he may change or exchange the licensed machine, game or device for
one similar and in the same license group upon application to the
Chief of Police, who shall note the exchange with his approval on
the original license.
[Amended 12-19-1979 by Ord. No. 765]
It shall be unlawful to install, maintain or operate any machine,
game or device for the purpose of gambling, wagering or betting, either
for cash, merchandise or other property, or for the purpose of giving
directly or indirectly any prize or return of profit by free play
or otherwise.
[Added 12-19-1979 by Ord. No. 765; amended 1-1-1982 by Ord. No.
10-81; 10-20-2009 by Ord. No. 2009-23]
No more than four machines or devices as described in this article
shall be permitted to be used or operated in any one place, location
or premises.
[Amended 12-19-1979 by Ord. No. 10-81; 10-20-1986 by Ord. No. 86-16]
It shall be unlawful for any person under the age of 18 years
to operate or play any of the following machines, games or devices:
pin amusement games, ballyhoo tables and similar machines, games and
devices; electric and manual crane machines; and baseball, football,
gun, bowling or similar machines, games and devices.
[Added 12-19-1979 by Ord. No. 765]
A license may be renewed by the Borough Council without a hearing,
upon the licensee's filing with the Borough Clerk during the
last month of the licensed term a sworn statement that there have
been no changes in the information contained in the initial application
and upon payment of the required license fee.
[Added 12-19-1979 by Ord. No. 765]
Every license issued hereunder is subject to the right, which
is expressly reserved, to revoke the same should the licensee directly
or indirectly permit the distribution or operation of any machine
or device as described in this article contrary to the provisions
of this article or any other ordinance, rule or regulation of this
Borough or the laws of this state. Any material misstatement or omission
in the license application or in any information submitted therewith
shall constitute sufficient ground for revocation of the said license.
Such revocation shall be by the Borough Council after a hearing upon
10 days' written notice to the licensee by certified mail, return
receipt requested, addressed to the licensee at the address designated
in said license, which notice shall specify the violations charged.
At such hearing, the licensee and his attorney may present evidence
or witnesses in his defense.
[Added 10-20-1986 by Ord. No. 86-16]
[Adopted 12-26-1975 by Ord. No. 700 as § 4-5 of
the 1975 Revised General Ordinances (Ch. 106 of the 1986 Code)]
No person shall own or operate within the Borough a billiard
or pool room or any other place where billiard tables are kept for
hire without having first obtained a license from the Borough Council
to do so.
All applications for the licensing of billiard or pool rooms shall be made to the Borough Council. In addition to the information required by § 343-2 of this Code, the applicant shall furnish recommendations as to his character and fitness from at least three respectable freeholders of the Borough. The Council shall fix a time for hearing such application and thereafter may grant or deny the same.
