No person or persons, firm or corporation shall, at any time, have
in his or its possession without having first procured and paid for
a license therefore, for each and every device as hereinafter provided,
with the Municipality of Bethel Park:
Any mechanical or, electrical or electronic device, machine or apparatus
whatsoever for the playing of games and amusements, among which are
those mechanical devices commonly known as "pinball machines," or
"video games," on which baseball, football, bowling, shuffleboard
and other games which are played through the insertion therein of
a coin, paper currency, metal disk or other token; any mechanical
device, machine or apparatus which, upon insertion of a coin, paper
currency, metal disk or other token, provides, for the purpose of
amusement and diversion, a ride, among which devices are those known
as "hobby horses," "rocket ships" and other such like devices including
every device having a grasping or gripping, or a claw arrangement
whereby the operator of the device retrieves prizes or objects.
Any mechanical device, machine or apparatus whatsoever whereon or
whereby music is played through the insertion of a coin, paper currency,
metal disk or other token.
Game of chance which shall be any mechanical or electrical device,
machine or apparatus whatsoever for the playing of poker, blackjack,
keno, or other playing card or playing card simulation game, or other
casino-type games of chance, including, but not limited to dice, roulette,
slot machines, bingo or the like, through the insertion of a coin,
paper currency, metal disk, slug or any other tokens whatsoever.
Any person or persons or firm or corporation desiring to procure
a license as provided above in this ordinance shall apply in writing
to the Manager of the Municipality. The form of the application shall
be as prescribed by the Manager.
Nothing in this ordinance shall in any way be construed to authorize,
license or permit any gambling device whatsoever or any mechanism
which has been judicially determined to be a gambling device or is
in any way contrary to law.
No license shall be issued under the provisions of this ordinance
for any mechanical device, machine or apparatus as defined in section
"License Required" of this ordinance until an annual fee therefore
shall have been paid for the use of the Municipality in the sum of
$200, which amount paid as aforesaid shall be a license fee until
December 31 of the year in which said license fee is paid; provided,
however, that should any such mechanical device, machine or apparatus
be installed after September 1 of any year and application for license
therefore be made after said date, then and in that event the license
fee for such machine or device until December 31 of that particular
year shall be the sum of $100.
No license shall be issued under the provisions of this ordinance
for any mechanical device, machine or apparatus, as defined in Section
"License Required" of this ordinance, until an annual fee therefore
shall have been paid for the use of the Municipality in the sum of
$100, which amount paid as aforesaid shall be a license fee until
December 31 of the year in which said license is paid.
No license shall be issued under the provision of this ordinance
for any mechanical or electrical game of chance as defined in Section
"Licensed Required" of this ordinance until an annual fee therefore
shall have been paid for the use of the Municipality in the sum of
$300 which amount paid as aforesaid shall be a license fee until December
31 of the year in which the license is paid. Provided, however, that
should any such mechanical device, machine or apparatus for the playing
of games of chance be installed after September 1 of any year, and
applications for license therefore be made after said date, then and
in that event the license fee for such device, machine or apparatus
until December 31 of that particular year shall be the sum of $150.
When two or more devices regulated by this ordinance capable of being
independently operated are contained in a single cabinet or enclosure,
each device or machine within the cabinet or enclosure must be separately
licensed.
Upon payment of the license fee as provided by this ordinance, the
Manager of the Municipality shall issue a sticker which shall state
the type of devices and the numbers of devices that have been licensed.
Such sticker shall be prominently displayed in a location approved
by the Municipality.
Any person or persons, firm or corporation having a device, as defined
herein, located on property under his or her control, which is not
in compliance with the terms of this ordinance, shall be guilty of
a summary offense and shall be fined a sum not to exceed $300 for
each and every offense.
Each and every day that such device which is not in compliance with
the terms of this ordinance remains on the property or premises shall
constitute a separate and distinct offense hereunder, and shall be
subject to a separate and distinct penalty therefore. Any person who
defaces or allows to be defaced a sticker as described in this ordinance
shall be guilty of a summary offense and shall be fined a sum not
to exceed $100.
Notwithstanding an applicant having paid a property license fee,
it shall be a violation punishable pursuant to this section for a
property owner, lessee or person having control of property to have
a licensed device on premises under his or her control without having
a sticker prominently displayed. It shall also be a violation to deface
or allow to be defaced such sticker.
This ordinance has been passed under the authority vested in
the Council of the Municipality of Bethel Park by Act. No. 511 of
the 1965 General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, effective
January 1, 1966, and its amendments, the terms and provisions of which
are hereby accepted and adopted in accordance with the provisions
thereof.
The license fees imposed herein shall continue in force on a
calendar-year basis following December 31, 1989, without annual reenactment
until such time as the Council of the Municipality of Bethel Park
shall change the license fees, or by appropriate ordinance, repeal
of such license fees.
The Manager of the Municipality of Bethel Park may prescribe
the form of an application, transfer application and license stickers,
and my establish such reasonable regulations as are necessary to enforce
the provisions of this ordinance or any other municipal ordinance
with may be affected by the use or operation of devices licensed under
this ordinance.