Township of Deerfield, NJ Chapter 146 Pool Halls and Bowling Alleys

[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee of the Township of Deerfield 2-15-1984 by Ord. No. 1984-1 as Ch. 81, Art. IV, of the 1984 Code; amended in its entirety 12-3-1986 by Ord. No. 1986-8. Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]

§ 146-1 Definitions.

As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:

BOWLING

Any of the various games in which balls are rolled on an alley or lane at an object or group of objects, usually tenpins, duckpins, candlepins or the like.

BOWLING ALLEY

Any lane or alley or group of lanes or alleys upon which games of bowling may be conducted.

§ 146-2 License required.

It shall be unlawful in the Township of Deerfield to conduct a bowling alley, billiard room, poolroom or combination thereof or such other places where the business of bowling or playing billiards or pool is conducted for gain, reward or profit without first having obtained a license for that purpose in accordance with the provisions of this chapter as herein set forth and having paid the required fee.

§ 146-3 Applications.

A. An application for such license issuable under this chapter shall be made to the Township Clerk in writing, signed by the person or persons, society, club, corporation or association intending to conduct such place of business, and said writing shall specify the location of the premises; the approximate size and the type and nature of the building and the structure thereon; the nature of the business to be conducted therein; the name, residence, age and occupation of the applicant; the number of alleys, coin-operated billiard or pool tables as well as non-coin-operated billiard and pool tables to be licensed; and such other information and data which, by the rules and regulations of the governing body, shall be considered pertinent. Applicants shall furnish two-by-two-inch photographs of the principal owners and/or operators of the business in question. In addition, the applicant shall agree, in writing, to conform his business hours to those set forth in this chapter. After investigation of the applicant by the Township Clerk, the application shall be presented to the Township Committee for final approval or disapproval.

B. The application shall also be submitted to the Health Officer and Zoning Officer, who shall investigate and who shall report thereon, in writing, to the Township Clerk.

C. The Health Officer and Zoning Officer shall respectfully satisfy themselves as to the moral and public-safety hazard and the sanitary requirements and conditions and shall make report thereon, together with their approval or disapproval, within 10 days after the application has been submitted to them.

D. Upon return of said application to the Township Clerk by the Health Officer and Zoning Officer, the Township Clerk shall then refer the application to the governing body of the Township of Deerfield for consideration and determination.

E. Upon favorable action of the governing body, the license herein provided shall be issued to the licensee.

§ 146-4 Term, conditions and nontransferability of license.

A. The term of each license issued hereunder shall run from January 1 and expire December 31 following the issuance thereof. Any and all licenses now issued and outstanding by virtue of any prior ordinance of this Township shall expire as of December 31, 1986. Any games now being conducted and covered by this chapter which are not licensed shall be licensed in accordance herewith, and the persons conducting the same shall be given 30 days after final passage of this chapter in which to secure said license.

B. Any license issued after August 1 of any year shall require payment of 1/2 of the full license fee for the year, and such license shall expire on December 31 after its issuance.

C. Each license shall apply only to the person, firm or corporation specified therein and shall not be transferable to any other firm or corporation or to any other place or location other than that shown or set forth in said license.

§ 146-5 Display of license.

The license herein provided for shall be posted and displayed in a conspicuous place in the bowling alley, billiard room, poolroom or such other place where the business of bowling or playing billiards or pool is conducted under such license.

§ 146-6 License fee.

A. The annual fee payable for licenses to be issued under this chapter shall be the sum of $300 per year.

B. The aforesaid fee shall be paid to the Township Clerk of the Township of Deerfield at the time the application for or renewal for the license is submitted. In the event that the license is refused or not issued, then the aforesaid license fee shall be refunded, except for $50, which shall be retained to defray the expenses and costs of inspections and investigations.

§ 146-7 Denial of license.

No license to operate or conduct a bowling alley, billiard room, poolroom or combination thereof or such other place where the business of bowling or playing billiards or pool is conducted shall be issued:

A. To any minor.

B. To any person convicted of crime or violation of any state law or municipal ordinance involving gambling or moral turpitude.

C. Unless the applicant is found to be of good moral character and the particular application will not work to the detriment of the health and welfare of the Township of Deerfield or the residents thereof.

§ 146-8 Admission of minors restricted; required signs.

A. No persons operating or having control of any billiard or pool table for profit or who has the control of such room or rooms wherein is kept, used or operated for profit any billiard or pool table of any kind whatsoever shall permit or allow any minor under the age of 18, unless accompanied by an adult relative over the age of 21 or person standing in loco parentis, to play thereon or to use any such table or to be, remain in or frequent or loiter in any such room, nor shall any person known to have been convicted of a crime or violation of a state law or municipal ordinance involving gambling be permitted to use any such table or to remain in or frequent such room.

B. It shall be the duty of any person who is proprietor or keeper of a billiard parlor or poolroom to post conspicuously in his place of business the following sign: "Minors under the age of 18 years not allowed here."

C. It shall also be the duty of any person who is the proprietor or keeper of a billiard parlor or poolroom to post conspicuously at each pool or billiard table or bowling alley on the premises the following sign: "No Gambling."

§ 146-9 Distance restriction.

No license shall hereinafter be issued to conduct the business of a bowling alley or billiard room or poolroom within 200 feet of any school, library or church premises.

§ 146-10 Exemption of certain organizations from licensing.

This chapter shall not apply to any duly authorized church or to any bona fide veteran, charitable, educational, religious, civic or fraternal organizations; provided, however, that such organizations are organized on a nonpecuniary profit basis and do not have a plenary retail consumption license issued by an Alcoholic Beverage Control Board.

§ 146-11 Hours of operation.

A. The owner or operator of every billiard room, poolroom, bowling alley or such other place as may exist wherein billiards or pool or bowling is licensed hereunder shall not use or permit the use of the billiard or pool tables or bowling alleys for any purpose except during the hours of 7:00 a.m. on each and every day of the week until 4:00 a.m. on the following morning, Monday through Sunday. In no event shall such tables be used between the hours of 2:00 a.m. and 7:00 am. On Sunday, said parlors shall be closed from 1:00 a.m. until.9:00 a.m.

B. The hours herein mentioned refer to standard time or daylight saving time, whichever time then is in effect and shall apply thereto.

§ 146-12 Complaints; suspensions and revocations.

A. A complaint may be filed by any interested citizen or by a member of any police agency or Fire Department or by the Health Officer or Zoning Officer of the Township of Deerfield if said complaint shall have reason to believe that a violation of this chapter exists in any premises licensed in accordance with this chapter.

B. The license issued hereunder may be suspended or revoked by the governing body upon a hearing to be held after notice to the licensee.

§ 146-13 Violations and penalties.

Any person, firm or corporation who violates any provisions of this chapter or fails to comply with the same, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by a fine not to exceed $500 or be imprisoned in the county jail not to exceed 90 days, or both, at the discretion of the Judge. A separate offense shall be deemed committed on each day during and on which a violation occurs upon conviction in any court having competent jurisdiction.