[R.O. 1957; 6:2-1; MC 1974-9, § 1, May 20, 1974; MC 1982-14, § 1, August 2, 1982]
(a) 
The term automatic amusement device shall mean any machine, apparatus, contrivance, appliance, or other device, which, upon the insertion of a coin, slug, token, plate or disc, may be operated by the public generally for the use as a game, entertainment or amusement, whether or not registering a score.
It shall include, but not be limited to, such devices as marble machines, pinball machines, skill ball, mechanical grab machines, baseball or tennis, hockey, roadracing or bowling machines, coin-operated electronically controlled games that are carried out on an electronic screen, and all games, operations, or transactions similar thereto, under whatever name they may be indicated.
(b) 
Specifically excluded from the foregoing definition under subsection (a) are mechanical devices, commonly known as "juke boxes" and "vending machines."
(c) 
Pool tables, billiard tables and games commonly known as bagatelle and bumper pool, whether coin-operated or not, are specifically covered by Chapter 9, Article 8, of these Ordinances.
(d) 
The term arcade shall mean any place or premises where six (6) or more automatic amusement devices are maintained for use and operation by the public.
(e) 
The term accessory use shall mean the use, operation, control, maintenance or ownership of five (5) or less automatic amusement devices by a business or establishment, conducted on the licensed premises, of which the non-automatic amusement device business produces more than ninety (90%) percent of the total gross annual income of such business or establishment.
(f) 
The term premises shall mean a building, or a part thereof, in which an automatic amusement device is owned, operated, located, or maintained.
[R.O. 1957; 62-1,6:3-2; amended by MC 1973-23, § 1, June 18, 1973; MC 1974-9, § 1, May 20, 1974; MC 1982-14, § 1, August 2, 1982]
(a) 
No person shall operate, maintain or use in any public or quasi-public place or in any building, store or other place where the public is invited, any automatic amusement device without first obtaining a license.
(b) 
No automatic amusement device license shall be issued to any person who has been convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude, or convicted of any statutory, disorderly person or ordinance offense involving gambling.
(c) 
No person shall operate an arcade or maintain automatic amusement devices without first registering said operation, which is separate from licensing of a device but a part of the same application therefor.
[Amended by MC 1974-9, § 1, May 20, 1974; MC 1982-14, § 1, August 2, 1982]
Application for automatic amusement device license shall be made in writing to the License Bureau, on a form signed by the applicant, containing the following information.
(a) 
Full name and address of each person interested as an owner or lessee of the premises where the device will be placed.
(1) 
If a corporate owner, name and address of each corporate owner holding ten (10%) percent or more of the outstanding stock;
(2) 
(A) 
The name and address of each officer of the corporation.
(B) 
Whenever there is a change in stock ownership, the name, address and percentage of stock ownership must be reported to the License Bureau within seven (7) days of such change.
(b) 
Location and description of the premises in which the device will tie placed, operated or maintained;
(c) 
Number of devices to be licensed or distributed;
(d) 
A statement that the machine or mechanism table is not used as a gambling device and only in games of skill for amusement purposes;
(e) 
Each application must be accompanied by an affidavit; properly notarized, revealing the source of all funds used in the purchase of the licensed business and all additional financing in connection with said operation;
(f) 
Each application is to include a registration statement of the business operation, whether arcade or as an accessory use, and will be assessed a registration fee.
[R.O. 1957; 6:2-3; amended by MC 1974-9, § 1, May 20, 1974; MC 1982-14, § 1, August 2, 1982]
(a) 
Before any license is issued under this article, the License Bureau shall cause to be investigated the information called for by the form in respect to the truth of the applicant and all circumstances bearing on the proposed license.
(b) 
The License Bureau shall report the findings of the investigation in writing to the Mayor or his designee.
[Amended by MC 1982-14, § 1, August 2, 1982]
(a) 
No licensee shall employ or have associated with him in any business capacity whatsoever any person who refuses to submit himself for fingerprinting.
(b) 
All individual and corporate owners of a license must submit himself for fingerprinting.
(1) 
Each officer of a corporation, whether or not holding stock in said corporation, must submit himself for fingerprinting.
[Amended by MC 1982-14, § 1, August 2, 1982]
An automatic amusement device license may be issued, in the discretion of the City Council, and of the Mayor, provided it is in the public health, safety and welfare, and upon the satisfaction of all of the following requirements:
(a) 
Proper application to License Bureau;
(b) 
Payment of all prescribed fees to the License Bureau;
(c) 
Approval by the City Council; and,
(d) 
Approval by the Mayor.
[R.O. 1957; 6:3-4; amended by MC 1974-9, § 1, May 20, 1974; MC 1982-14, § 1, August 2, 1982]
The device license shall state the:
(a) 
Name and address of licensee;
(b) 
Address of the premises involved;
(c) 
Object for which it is given;
(d) 
Number of amusement devices;
(e) 
Number of the license; and
(f) 
Date of its expiration.
[R.O. 1957; 6:2-3; amended by MC 1974-9, § 1, May 20, 1974; MC 1982-14, § 1, August 2, 1982]
An automatic amusement device license shall be issued only to the actual proprietor of the premises to be licensed.
[Amended by MC 1982-14, § 1, August 2, 1982]
Automatic amusement device license shall be issued for a period of one (1) year from June 1 to the last day of May of the following year.
[R.O. 1957; 6:23; amended by MC 1974-9, § 1, May 20, 1974; MC 1982-14, § 1, August 2, 1982]
(a) 
All automatic amusement device licenses issued shall be numbered consecutively and designate the number of devices to be maintained on the premises.
(b) 
All such licenses shall contain a paragraph stating that the devices mentioned in the license may be used in a game of skill for amusement purposes only, and not for gambling purposes.
[MC 1974-9, § 1. May 20, 1974; MC 1982-14, § 1, August 2, 1982]
The Police Division shall make periodic inspections of all automatic amusement devices under this article to insure that the licensee is in compliance with all of the terms and provisions of his license.
[R.O. 1957; 6:2-3, 2-5, 6:3-5; amended by MC 1974-9, § 1, May 20, 1974; MC 1982-14, § 1, August 2, 1982]
(a) 
In the event of a sale or transfer of the licensed business, the license for an automatic amusement device may be transferred on the payment of a transfer fee.
(b) 
Prior to the transfer of an automatic amusement device license, the Chief of Police shall investigate the transferee, as provided herein and approve such transferee by certificate.
(c) 
Upon application to the License Bureau and the payment of the prescribed transfer fee, the holder of a license may replace one (1) automatic amusement device for another device of identical nature or type in place of the original device licensed by the licensee.
(d) 
Upon application to the License Bureau and payment of the prescribed transfer fee, a licensed device may be transferred from one (1) location to another, provided such transfer complies with this article.
[MC 1982-14, § 1, August 2, 1982]
(a) 
Arcades. Arcades may operate between the hours of 10:00 A.M. to 10:00 P.M., Monday through Saturday, inclusive, and between the hours of 1:00 P.M. and 10:00 P.M. on Sunday.
(b) 
Accessory use. The hours of operation of the automatic amusement device shall be the same as the regular hours of opening of the primary business, except that, in no event, shall the devices be operated after 2:00 A.M.
[MC 1982-14, § 1, August 2, 1982; MC 1982-18, § 1, September 7, 1982]
(a) 
No person under the age of eighteen (18) years shall be permitted to play and operate any machine or device licensed pursuant to this chapter between the hours of 10:00 A.M. and 3:00 P.M. during regular school days of the Plainfield public school system, unless such person is accompanied by his parent, guardian or other supervisory adult who is over the age of twenty-one (21) years.
(b) 
At an times during the hours of operation of the licensed premises, there shall be present on the premises at least one manager who shall be not less than eighteen (18) years of age in order to provide adequate control and supervision of the licensed premises and the use of the automatic amusement device present therein.
[MC 1982-14, § 1, August 2, 1982]
No automatic amusement device shall be located, operated or maintained within one thousand (1,000) feet of any public or private school, or within three hundred (300) feet of any residence. Under this section distance shall be measured in the most direct line or route on, along or across any street.
[MC 1982-14, § 1, August 2, 1982]
The original license, or a legible photographic copy thereof, issued under this article shall be displayed at or near the entrance of the licensed property and such display shall be in a conspicuous location so that it can be easily and quickly identified.
[MC 1982-14, § 1, August 2, 1982]
Any licensee, or other person who violates any provision of this article shall be subject to a mandatory fine of Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) per machine per day and may be subject to imprisonment for a term not exceeding ninety (90) days, or both. Each day that such violation continues shall constitute a separate offense.
[MC 1982-14, § 1, August 2, 1982]
(a) 
No licensee shall, during business hours, allow, permit or suffer in or upon the licensed premises any disturbances, lewdness, immoral activities, brawls, unnecessary noises, unlawful acts or unlawful trespasses, so as to interfere with the free and uninterrupted use of such licensed premises by others lawfully there.
[MC 1982-14, § 1, August 2, 1982]
(a) 
Nothing in this article shall in any way be construed to authorize, license or permit any gambling devices whatsoever, or any mechanism that has been judicially determined to be a gambling device, or in any way contrary to law, or that may be contrary to any future laws of the State of New Jersey.
[MC 1982-14, § 1, August 2, 1982]
(a) 
No licensee shall possess, allow or suffer on or about the licensed premises any slot machine or device in the nature of a slot machine which may be used for the purpose of playing for money or other valuable thing.
[MC 1982-14, § 1, August 1982]
(a) 
No licensee shall engage in, allow, permit or suffer in or upon the licensed premises the conduct of any lottery, or any ticket or participation right in any lottery to be sold or offered for sale.
(b) 
No licensee shall possess, have custody of, allow, permit or suffer any such ticket or participation right in or upon the licensed premises.
(c) 
This section shall not apply to bingo and raffles, or tickets of participation rights therein, being conducted pursuant to appropriate license.
[MC 1982-14, § 1, August 2, 1982; MC 1982-18, § 1, September 7, 1982]
(a) 
A registration fee for each arcade license shall be One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) per year (six (6) or more machines).
(b) 
A registration fee for each accessory use license shall be Twenty-Five Dollars ($25.00), per year (five (5) or less machines).
(c) 
A device fee shall be Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) per device, per year.
(d) 
A transfer of license ownership fee shall be Fifty Dollars ($50.00) per transfer.
(e) 
No fee shall be charged for the transfer of a device. However, the transferor of the device shall give written notice to the License Bureau of such transfer within seven (7) days of such transfer.
[MC 1982-14, § 1, August 2, 1982]
(a) 
No licensee shall allow, permit or suffer in or upon the licensed premises the presence of any known prostitute, gangster, racketeer, notorious criminal, or other persons of ill repute.
(b) 
No licensee shall allow, permit or suffer in or upon the licensed premises any unlawful activity pertaining to narcotic or other drugs, or other controlled dangerous substances as defined by the New Jersey Controlled Dangerous Substances Act (N.J.S.A. 24:21-1 et seq.) or any prescription legend drug, in any form, which is not narcotic, depressant or stimulant drug, controlled dangerous substance as so defined.
(c) 
No licensee shall allow, permit or suffer the licensed premises to be accessible to any premises upon which any illegal activity or enterprise is carried on, or the licensed premises or business to be used in furtherance or aid of or accessible to any illegal activity or enterprise.
[MC 1982-14, § 1, August 2, 1982]
(a) 
Interim suspension. Nothing in the provisions of this section shall preclude the right of the Mayor to suspend or revoke the license of the licensee, as follows:
The Mayor may temporarily suspend any license issued under the terms of this article when he has reason to believe that the continued operation of a particular licensed premises will immediately threaten the welfare of the community or create an imminent danger of violation of applicable law. In such case, he may, upon the issuance of a written order stating the reason for such determination, and without notice or hearing, order the licensed premises to be closed for not more than seven (7) days, provided that the licensee shall be given an opportunity to be heard in a public hearing during the seven (7) day period, and further provided that if such licensee shall also be engaged in the conduct of other businesses on the licensed premises, such order shall not be applicable to such other businesses.
(b) 
Formal suspension or revocation; notice and hearing required.
(1) 
The Mayor may suspend or revoke any license issued under the terms of this article upon due notice to the licensee of the time and place of a public hearing that the licensee has failed or refused to comply with the terms of this article, has failed or refused to comply with other law applicable to the business of keeping or providing coin operated amusement devices, or has been convicted by a court of competent jurisdiction of a violation of any provision of this article.
(2) 
Formal suspension or revocation of license may be made upon five (5) days' written notice of the charges preferred against the licensee shall have been given to him personally or by mailing the same by registered mail addressed to him at the licensed premises and a reasonable opportunity to be heard thereon afforded to him.
(3) 
A suspension or revocation of licensee shall be effected by a notice of writing of such suspension or revocation, designating the effective date thereof, and in case of suspension, the term of such suspension, which notice may be served upon the licensee personally or by mailing the same by registered mail addressed to him at the licensed premises. Such suspension or revocation shall apply to the licensee and to the licensed premises.
(4) 
A revocation shall render the licensee and the officers, directors and each owner, directly or indirectly, of more than ten percent (10%) of the stock of the corporate licensee ineligible to hold or receive any other license, of any kind or class under this chapter, for a period of two (2) years from the effective date of such revocation. A second revocation shall render the licensee and the officers, directors and each owner, directly or indirectly, of more than ten percent (10%) of the stock of a corporate license ineligible to hold or receive any such license at any time thereafter.
(5) 
Any revocation may, in the discretion of Council and the Mayor, render the licensed premises ineligible to become the subject of any further license, of any kind or class under this chapter, during a period of two (2) years from the effective date of revocation.
(6) 
In a suspension or revocation proceeding, it shall be sufficient, in order to establish a violation of this article by the licensee, to show that the violation was committed by the agent, servant or employee of the licensee. The fact that the licensee did not participate in the violation or that his agent, servant, or employee acted contrary to instructions given him by the licensee, or that the violation did not occur in the licensee's presence shall constitute no defense to the charges preferred in such proceeding. The burden of proof of a violation shall be on the party charging same. Proof of a violation shall be sufficiently established where there is a reasonable basis for concluding the existence of a violation.
[MC 1982-14, § 1, August 2, 1982; MC 1982-18, § 1, September 7, 1982]
(a) 
On July 1, of each year, each licensee shall register with the Chief of Police or his designee, all engaged in the establishment, which registration shall provide the following:
(1) 
Name, address, age and citizenship.
(2) 
History of any conviction of any crime involving moral turpitude.
(3) 
Each such employee shall be required to be fingerprinted once for a reasonable fee under the supervision of the Chief of Police, or his designee, at such time and place as shall be designated by the Chief of Police. The fingerprints shall be marked "non-criminal" and shall be filed with the Chief of Police.
(4) 
Any other relevant information requested by the Chief of Police or his designee.