[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.]
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated:
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.
Any lane or alley or group of lanes or alleys upon which games of
bowling may be conducted.
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.
A.Â
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.Â
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.Â
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.Â
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.Â
Upon favorable action of the governing body, the license
herein provided shall be issued to the licensee.
A.Â
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.Â
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.Â
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.
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.
A.Â
The annual fee payable for licenses to be issued under
this chapter shall be the sum of $300 per year.
B.Â
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.
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.Â
To any minor.
B.Â
To any person convicted of crime or violation of any
state law or municipal ordinance involving gambling or moral turpitude.
C.Â
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.
A.Â
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.Â
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.Â
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."
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.
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.
A.Â
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.Â
The hours herein mentioned refer to standard time or
daylight saving time, whichever time then is in effect and shall apply thereto.
A.Â
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.Â
The license issued hereunder may be suspended or revoked
by the governing body upon a hearing to be held after notice to the licensee.
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.