It shall be unlawful for any person to conduct
a theater without having first obtained a license therefor.
The Township Clerk shall transmit one copy of
such application to the Chief of Police of the Township, who shall
cause an investigation to be made of the applicant and report thereon
to the Township Committee. No license shall be issued to any applicant
who shall have been convicted of a crime.
The applicant shall also present with his application
a certificate of approval of the Chief of the Fire Department of the
Township, showing that the building complies with all laws of the
State of New Jersey and all local ordinances pertaining to fire or
safety.
The license hereby required shall be issued
by the Township Clerk upon the direction of the Township Committee.
[Amended 11-25-1975 by Ord. No. 3046; 12-13-1988 by Ord. No.
3997; 12-14-1993 by Ord. No. 4282; 9-10-2002 by Ord. No. 4745]
The annual license fee for each such license
for an indoor theater of not more than 400 seats shall be $950. For
an indoor theater of more than 400 seats, the annual license fee shall
be $1,250. Each such fee shall be payable on or before January 1 in
each year. No license shall be issued until said fee has been paid.
In the event that said license shall be revoked, no part of said license
fee shall be returned to the licensee. Each such license shall expire
on December 31 of each year, and such license may be renewed from
year to year upon the filing of an application for renewal filed in
the same manner as the application for an original license. No license
issued pursuant to this chapter shall be transferred by the holder
thereof without the approval of the Township Committee.
[Amended 7-12-1977 by Ord. No. 3219]
A. Licenses issued
under the provisions of this chapter for an indoor theater shall not
be deemed to permit the operation in or on the licensed premises between
the hours of 2:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. or before 1:00 p.m. on Sundays.
B. Licenses issued
under the provisions of this chapter for an open-air automobile drive-in
theater shall not be deemed to permit the operation in or on the licensed
premises between the hours of 1:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. or before 1:00
p.m. on Sundays.
The exits and exit doors of each theater shall
open directly from the exhibition hall on to a street, alley or public
parking area. All aisles shall lead directly to exits. No aisle or
passageway shall be less than three feet in width, and all aisles
and passageways in said theaters shall be kept free from obstructions,
and no person other than an employee of the licensed premises, a policeman
or fireman shall stand in or occupy any of said aisles or passageways
during any performance, exhibition or any public assemblage. The booth
enclosing the projection machine shall rest upon a balcony. The theaters
shall be provided with fire escapes placed as and where directed by
the Construction Code Official and Chief of the Fire Department; provided,
however, that where the entire seating capacity of such theater shall
be maintained on the ground floor of any building, no balcony or fire
escape shall be required. In the instance of an outdoor theater, it
shall not be necessary to install fire escapes, nor shall a balcony
be required for the booth; provided, however, that it is required
that the booth of such outdoor theater be enclosed, and no exits as
herein set forth shall be required.
Any state or municipal officer, police officer
or fireman may enter any theater at any time for the purpose of inspection
to enforce obedience of the laws of the State of New Jersey and the
ordinances of the Township of Union.
Every portion of a theater, including exits
and corridors, devoted to the public use or the accommodation of the
public shall be adequately lighted.
[Amended 10-28-1986 by Ord. No. 3879; 12-13-1988 by Ord. No.
3998; 10-26-2004 by Ord. No. 4842; at time of adoption of Code (see
Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
Any person violating any of the provisions of
this chapter shall, upon conviction thereof, be subject to one or
more of the following: imprisonment in the county jail or in any other
place provided by the municipality for the detention of prisoners
for any term not exceeding 90 days or by a fine not exceeding $2,000
or by a period of community service not exceeding 90 days, to become
effective on the effective date of this section.