It is unlawful to maintain, conduct, operate or engage in, or
carry on, the business of maintaining, conducting or operating any
pool room or billiard room or place in which pool or billiards shall
be played for gain, hire or reward in the Township without first having
obtained a license therefor from the Township Committee.
Application for a license shall be filed in accordance with Chapter
301, Licensing. The following additional information shall be required:
A. In the case of a corporation,
the names and addresses of all the officers, directors and all stockholders
presently holding stock and all who for six months prior to the making
of an application have been officers, directors or stockholders;
B. In the case of clubs or associations,
it shall state the names and addresses of all officers;
C. The number of pool tables and
billiard tables to be located upon the premises to be licensed.
The licenses shall be issued by the Township Clerk only after
a resolution of the Township Committee has been adopted approving
the application and only after the payment of the license fee. All
licenses shall be valid from the first day of July of the year in
which the license is issued until the 30th day of June next after
the same is issued, unless sooner revoked.
The license shall not be transferable by the holder to any other
person, but it may be transferred by the holder to another address,
provided that the licensee makes written application for the transfer
to the Clerk and the transfer is approved by resolution of the Township
Committee. In the event that the business is sold, the prospective
purchaser shall apply for the issuance of a new license in accordance
with the terms of this chapter and the payment of the fees as set
forth hereinafter.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General
Provisions, Art. II)]
The annual fee to be paid for the license is as provided in Chapter
245, Fees, §
245-4, for each pool or billiard table located upon the premises to be licensed.
In addition to the grounds stated in §
301-9, a license may be suspended or revoked for permitting or suffering any activity upon the licensed premises which is or may be detrimental to the public health, safety, welfare or morals.
The following regulations shall apply:
A. In the event any license is suspended
or revoked, the licensee shall not be permitted to the return of any
portion of the license fee.
B. Any premises which shall be declared
to be unsafe as a result of the written report of the Building Subcode
Official, or declared to be or pose a fire hazard as result of the
written report of the Fire Marshal, shall be deemed to be ineligible
for a license or renewal thereof.
C. No license shall be issued for
the operation of any pool or billiard room which is located within
200 feet of any school, church or publicly owned building.
D. The hours of operation of such
pool or billiard room shall be between the hours of 7:00 a.m. to 12:00
midnight on Mondays through Thursdays; 7:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. on Fridays
and Saturdays, and 1:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. on Sundays.
E. Age regulations. No person under
the age of 14 shall be admitted to or permitted to play pool or billiards
in any licensed premises or to frequent or lounge or congregate or
gather in any such room or place unless accompanied by his or her
parent or adult guardian. Further, no person under the age of 18 shall
be permitted to play or remain in the licensed premises beyond the
hour of 11:00 p.m., regardless of whether such child is accompanied
by his or her parent or adult guardian.
F. In no event shall card playing
be permitted on premises licensed under this chapter, even if such
card playing is for social purposes.
G. All premises in which the games
of pool and billiards are played shall be on the street floor of any
building and shall be so arranged and shall be so lighted that a full
view of the interior may be had from the public thoroughfare or from
adjacent rooms to which the public is admitted at all hours.
H. This chapter shall not apply to
any religious, charitable, benevolent or nonprofit association or
corporation which operates or maintains any pool or billiard table
solely for the recreation and amusement of its members, provided the
organization is bona fide in character and is not intended as a means
or device for evading the terms and provisions of this chapter, nor
shall this chapter apply to the keeping of any pool or billiard table
in private residences.
I. There shall be conspicuously posted
and displayed in any premises licensed under this chapter the following:
(1) The license issued pursuant
to this chapter;
(2) A copy of the ordinance codified
in this chapter, which shall be supplied to the licensee by the Township
Clerk;
(3) A minimum of two signs conspicuously
placed in the pool or billiard area of the premises with clear, bold
lettering (lettering shall be a minimum of six inches in height) indicating
"No Gambling";
(4) A minimum of two signs conspicuously
placed in the pool or billiard area of the premises giving notice
of the hours of operation with regard to persons under the age of
18 years.
The licensee shall provide a minimum of one qualified adult
attendant on duty at all times within the premises and during the
hours the billiard or pool room is open to the public, who shall supervise
the premises to see that order is maintained, that disorderly or improper
conduct is prevented, that such licensed area is kept free from congestion,
and to insure that the provisions of this chapter and the rules governing
the use of the billiard or pool tables are observed.