Township of Saddle Brook, NJ Chapter 55 Amusements

[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee (now the Township Council) of the Township of Saddle River (now the Township of Saddle Brook) 11-10-1944 by Ord. No. 267. Amendments noted where applicable.]

§ 55-1 License required for premises.

Within the limits of the Township of Saddle Brook no person, firm or corporation shall conduct or carry on the business of the operation, storage, maintenance or exhibition of any mechanical game of skill or entertainment which is operated or set in motion by deposit therein of a coin, token, slug, wafer, disk or other like article or work in, occupy or, directly or indirectly, in any manner whatsoever, utilize any place or premises in or at which such business is conducted or carried on, unless and until there shall be granted by the Township Council after written application therefor, in accordance with the terms of this chapter, and shall be in force and effect a license to conduct said business for the place or premises in or at which said business shall be conducted and carried on.

§ 55-2 Application for license.

A. Said license shall be applied for in writing, signed by the applicant, addressed to the Township Council and filed with the Township Clerk. Such application shall set forth the full name and address of the applicant, a particular description of the mechanical game or games to be operated, stored, maintained or exhibited and the location of the place and premises in or at which the business is to be conducted or carried on. Said application shall also be accompanied by a deposit in cash to cover the license fee for the current year in the amount hereinafter provided.

B. The number of mechanical games or machines shall be limited to two at all places or premises within the Township of Saddle Brook. The application for a mechanical game or machine must have attached to it a plot plan showing the location of each particular game or machine as it shall be located in a room or on the premises. The application shall also contain a provision for an approval or denial by the Police Department as well as a provision for approval or denial by the Fire Department, and said action by the Police Department and Fire Department must be completed and indicated on the application prior to the governing body considering the application.

[Added 10-9-1980 by Ord. No. 815]

§ 55-3 License fees.

[Amended 7-14-1950 by Ord. No. 332; 4-13-1978 by Ord. No. 763; 12-30-1981 by Ord. No. 849; 2-11-1982 by Ord. No. 852; 12-30-1982 by Ord. No. 866; 2-14-1985 by Ord. No. 902; 3-26-1987 by Ord. No. 945]

A. The license fee for said business and for the place or premises in or at which same is to be conducted or carried on shall be the sum of $125 for each place or location where mechanical games are located, no matter how described, on the premises, for each calendar year or any part thereof. All license fees shall expire on December 31 of each year and must be renewed each year.

B. The license fee set forth herein shall be waived for any nonprofit corporation organized and operating pursuant to Title 15 of the Revised Statutes of the State of New Jersey, provided that said corporation submits satisfactory proof to the Township Clerk of said corporation's certificate of incorporation, evidencing compliance and incorporation pursuant to the provisions of Title 15 of the Revised Statutes of the State of New Jersey, and further submits a notarized statement that said nonprofit corporation is in good standing with respect to its corporate charter. Failure to meet these requirements shall cause the Township Clerk to collect the aforementioned fee from any nonprofit corporation.

§ 55-4 Investigation and inspection of premises.

Before any license is issued hereunder, upon the filing of said application the same shall be investigated and the premises inspected by the Chief of Police or such other person as may be designated by the Township Council, who shall render a report of such investigation to the Township Council.

§ 55-5 Refusal of license.

Upon receipt of such report the Township Council shall act upon said application and may refuse to grant a license in any and all cases where the Township Council shall determine that a person who has been convicted of a crime is interested, either directly or indirectly, in the application for such license or in the operation of said business or the place or premises in or at which the said business is proposed to be conducted and carried on under said license.

§ 55-6 Issuance of license; contents; display.

All licenses granted by the Township Council shall be signed by the Township Clerk and shall be impressed with the Seal of the Township of Saddle Brook and shall set forth on the face of the license the amount of the fee paid, the name and address of the licensee, the address of the place or premises where the business is to be conducted or carried on and the number and kind of mechanical games of skill or entertainment to be operated, stored, maintained or exhibited at such premises. Such license shall at all times be prominently displayed by the licensee at the place or premises where the licensed business is conducted or carried on.

§ 55-7 Transfer of license.

Licenses issued hereunder shall, with the consent of the Township Council, be transferable from one place or premises to another; provided, however, that any licensee desiring permission to effect such transfer shall first make application in writing, setting forth the facts to the Township Council.

§ 55-8 Revocation of license.

The Township Council may revoke any license for sufficient cause, after notice and hearing. It shall be sufficient cause for the revocation of any such license:

A. If such mechanical game of skill or entertainment shall be played by any minor under the age of 18 years, whether with or without the knowledge of the licensee thereof.

[Amended 3-26-1987 by Ord. No. 945]

B. If such mechanical game of skill or entertainment shall be used for the purpose of gambling, wagering or betting, whether with or without the knowledge of the licensee thereof.

§ 55-9 Violations and penalties.

Any person, firm or corporation who shall violate any term or provision of this chapter shall, upon conviction thereof, be subject to imprisonment in the county jail or in any place provided by the Township of Saddle Brook for the detention of prisoners, for a term not exceeding 90 days, or to a fine not exceeding $200, or both. Any person so convicted may, in the discretion of the Judge by whom he was convicted, in default of the payment of any fine, be imprisoned in the county jail or place of detention provided by the Township of Saddle Brook for any term not exceeding 90 days. There may issue, in addition, out of the court empowered to impose fines for the violation of this chapter execution against the goods and chattels of any person, firm or corporation convicted. Each day that a violation of a term or provision of this chapter shall continue shall constitute a separate offense.