[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Council
of the Township of Mount Laurel 11-3-1980 by Ord. No. 1980-34. Amendments noted where applicable.]
As used in this chapter, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
Any machine operated mechanically, electronically, electrically,
automatically or otherwise which, upon the insertion of a coin, slug,
token, plate or disk, may be operated by the public generally for
use as a game, entertainment or amusement, whether or not registering
a score. Said "mechanical amusement" definition shall include but
not be limited to those devices commonly known as "pinball," "bagatelle,"
"baseball" or "pin amusement machines," "photoelectric shooting or
target machines."
Any building, store or other place wherein the public is
invited or wherein the public may enter, including premises used as
a clubhouse or a clubroom by members of any organization.
The keeping, placing, operation, maintenance
or use of all mechanical amusement devices in any public or quasi-public
place without having first obtained a license for that purpose according
to the terms and conditions of this chapter shall be unlawful.
A.
The owner or lessee of any public or quasi-public
place in which is to be located mechanical amusement devices shall
apply for a license by using the application forms to be furnished
by the Municipal Clerk. Said application forms shall set forth the
names and address of the owner of the premises and the owner of the
machine, a description of the machine and the estimated length of
service of said machine in said public or quasi-public place and shall
set forth any and all information necessary to effectuate the terms
and conditions of this chapter. Upon review of said application as
to whether said application satisfactorily conforms to the requirements
of the chapter, and upon payment of the requisite fee, the Municipal
Clerk shall issue the license in a form to be determined by the Municipal
Clerk. Said license shall be issued to and in the name of the owner
or lessee of the machine.
B.
The fee for the issuance of such licenses shall be
$100 per year for each machine, and such licenses shall expire on
January 31 of each year. There shall be no proration of the license
fee.
[Amended 12-17-1984 by Ord. No. 1984-40; 6-1-2009 by Ord. No. 2009-11]
C.
No mechanical amusement device may be kept, placed,
operated, maintained or used until the license as issued by the Municipal
Clerk is affixed thereto in a conspicuous place so that the same can
be easily and quickly identified.
[Amended 10-1-1984 by Ord. No. 1984-33]
Any person violating any of the provisions of
this chapter shall, upon conviction thereof, be punishable by a fine
not to exceed the sum of $1,000 or by imprisonment not to exceed a
period of 90 days in jail, or both, at the discretion of the court
before which such conviction shall be had. Each day that the violation
shall occur shall be deemed to be a separate offense.
