[HISTORY: Adopted by the City Council of the City of Farrell 8-19-1988 by Ord. No. O-11-1988. Amendments noted where applicable.]
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
AUTOMATIC AMUSEMENT DEVICE
A. 
The term "automatic amusement device" shall include mechanical and/or electronic amusement devices and shall mean any machine which, upon the insertion of a coin slug, token, plate or disc may be operated by persons generally for use as a game, entertainment or amusement, whether or not registering a score. It shall include such devices as marble machines, pinball machines, skill ball, mechanical grab machine, baseball or bowling machines, video machine and all games, operations or transactions similar thereto under whatever name they may be indicated.
B. 
Specifically excluded from the foregoing definition under this chapter are mechanical devices commonly known as "vending machines."
C. 
Also specifically excluded from the foregoing definition are pool tables, billiard tables, bagatelle tables or pigeonhole tables, whether coin-operated or not, which are separately and specifically covered by separate ordinance.
GAME ROOM
Any room or rooms operated together containing five or more automatic amusement devices.
OWNER OR OPERATOR
Any natural person, firm, partnership, corporation or association operating, maintaining or conducting a game room in the City.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
A license tax for general revenue purposes in an amount as established from time to time by resolution of City Council is hereby imposed and levied upon all game rooms within the City.
A. 
From and after the first day of September, 1988, it shall be unlawful to operate a game room within the City without first obtaining a license therefor and without paying the annual license fee hereinbefore imposed.
B. 
Every licensed game room shall keep continuously posted therein its license in a conspicuous place.
C. 
The license fee imposed by this chapter shall be in addition to the license fee imposed upon distributors and/or proprietors for each automatic amusement device by Chapter 336, Article III, Amusement Tax.
A. 
Application for license. Application for such license shall be made by the owner or operator of a game room. Said application shall be made upon forms provided by the City to the City Manager, who is hereby authorized to issue the same upon payment of the license tax hereinbefore imposed.
B. 
Application requirements. The application shall set forth the name and residence address of the applicant, name under which the business is to be conducted, the address where such business is to be conducted, a description of the actual premises to be licensed, the number of automatic amusement devices to be used and such other information as shall be required.
C. 
Approval or denial.
(1) 
Approval. If the application is approved, the license shall be issued by the City Manager, and the fee shall be remitted to the City Clerk.
(2) 
Denial. If the application is denied, the grounds for denial shall be set forth in writing. The applicant shall be entitled to a hearing before Council within 30 days. At this time, the applicant will be permitted to submit pertinent information on applicant's behalf. The applicant will be given 10 days' notice of the date and time of the hearing.
D. 
Premises requirement.
(1) 
Health and safety regulations. Prior to issuance of the license, the premises shall comply with all health and sanitation requirements and all building code ordinances of the City of Farrell, and shall be inspected and approved by the Code Enforcement Officer and said premises shall also be inspected and approved by the Fire Chief for compliance with safety regulations and requirements.
(2) 
Obstruction of windows and doors. All automatic amusement devices shall be so arranged and located as to be open to public view. The windows and doors of the same shall be kept free of screens or other obstructions preventing full view from the outside. However, nothing in this section shall be constructed to prohibit the maintaining of such rooms on the second floor of buildings.
(3) 
Underground location prohibited. No automatic amusement devices shall be operated or maintained in any room located below the surface of the ground in such manner that full view from the outside would be obstructed.
(4) 
Other restrictions.
(a) 
No game room shall be established within 500 feet from any school, church, library, senior citizen center, social service center, municipal, county, state or federal building.
(b) 
No game room shall be established within 500 feet of any liquor store.
(c) 
No game room shall be established within 250 feet of any bar.
All licenses shall run from January 1 through December 31 at the rate and fee hereinbefore set forth. Any license processed after June 30 will be at 1/2 the annual rate and fee; provided, however, that for the 1/3 year, September 1, 1988, through December 31, 1988, the license fee shall be 1/3 the amount herein provided for as the annual fee.
Said license shall be issued subject to the provisions of this chapter and shall be subject to revocation at any time by the issuing officer for violation of any of the provisions hereof, any other City ordinance or law of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania committed in the licensed premises. If a license is revoked, the licensee may appeal such revocation within 10 days of such revocation after which he shall be entitled to a hearing thereon with 20 days thereof. The licensee shall be given seven days' notice of said hearing.
A. 
No owner or operator holding a license to operate a game room shall permit a person under 12 years of age to play or operate automatic amusement device unless such person is accompanied by an adult. This limitation shall not apply to the use of jukeboxes or to the use of mechanical carousel horses or similar amusement devices designed especially for the amusement of children.
B. 
The owner or operator shall not permit any person to bet or gamble on the licensed premises.
C. 
The owner or operator shall at times maintain good order and shall not permit any disturbance, congestion or loitering upon the licensed premises.
D. 
No music machine shall be operated in a manner to be heard out of doors.
E. 
No licensed premises shall be without adequate sanitary facilities nor contain any fire, safety or health hazard.
F. 
Each owner or operator shall, within five days, report in writing to the City Manager any change by addition or deletion of the information furnished on the license application during the term of any license or renewal thereof.
G. 
No owner or operator shall refuse to cooperate fully with the City Manager and any law enforcement officer or agency.
The Police Department shall make periodic inspections of all game rooms licensed under this chapter to ensure that the licensee is in compliance with all of the terms and provisions of said license. The inspection will be made during hours of operation and will not be pre-announced. Refusal to cooperate will be grounds for forfeiture of license.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
A. 
Any person, firm or corporation who shall violate any provision of this chapter shall, upon conviction thereof, be sentenced to pay a fine of not more than $1,000 plus costs or to a term of imprisonment not to exceed 90 days, or both. Each day that a violation shall continue shall constitute a separate offense.
B. 
Upon such conviction, no licensee shall thereafter transact the business of owning or operating a game room in the City.