There is hereby imposed an annual license fee
at the rate hereinafter specified on all persons, firms, corporations
or associations using or permitting the use for profit in the Township
of Hatfield, of any machine or device for amusement or entertainment,
which is operated by the insertion of a coin or a token representing
such coin.
[Amended 12-8-2004 by Ord. No. 535; 12-14-2005 by Ord. No.
547; 12-13-2006 by Ord. No. 554; 12-12-2007 by Ord. No. 567]
The license fee for the use of amusement machines
shall remain $150 annually.
Every person, firm, corporation or association
owning, having or possessing any such machine or device now used or
permitted to be used for profit shall, on or before March 1, 1961,
register with the Police Department of Hatfield Township the said
machine or device and shall, at the time of such registration, pay
the license fee therefor for the year 1961; and shall, on or before
January 1 of each year thereafter, pay the said license fee for each
such year. Any person, firm, corporation or association hereafter
acquiring such machine or device to be used or permitting the said
machine or device to be so used, shall register the said machine or
device as aforesaid and pay the license fee for the then current year;
and on or before January 1 of each year thereafter shall pay the said
license fee for the said current year.
Each application for the registration of any
such machine or device shall describe the kind of machine or machines,
and the Police Department of Hatfield Township shall, at the time
of the payment of the license fee therefor, issue a permit for the
calendar year for which the license fee has been paid, which permit
shall specify the number of machines or devices subject to the license
fee and shall be posted and displayed by the licensee in a conspicuous
place in the area where said machine or machines, device or devices
is or are located. It shall be unlawful to use or permit to be used
for profit any such machine or device for which the license fee has
not been paid or for which there is no permit displayed in a conspicuous
place in the area where said machine or device is located.
If the license fee hereby imposed shall not
be paid on or before the date fixed for the payment thereof, there
shall be added a penalty of 5% thereof, and the said delinquent license
fee shall bear interest at the rate of 1/2 of 1% for each month or
fraction thereof after the date herein required for payment of the
same.
The Solicitor, when requested by the Police
Department, shall proceed for the collection of any delinquent license
fees arising hereunder, together with penalties, costs and interest
thereon, and shall take such action for that purpose as may be authorized
by law.
Any person, firm, corporation or association
violating any of the provisions of this article or failing to pay
the license fee on any machine or device and registering the same
with the Police Department, or permitting the said machine or device
to be used without having the required permit displayed in a conspicuous
place in the area where said machine or device is located, shall be
subject to a fine or penalty not exceeding $600, plus costs, and,
in default of payment of said fine and costs, to a term of imprisonment
not to exceed 30 days.
The Police Department is hereby authorized and
directed to make and keep such records, prepare such forms and take
such other measures as may be necessary or convenient to carry this
article into effect.