[HISTORY: Adopted by the City Council of the City of Saratoga
Springs 6-4-1996.[1] Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Curfew — See Ch. 96.
Entertainment — See Ch. 109.
Games of chance — See Ch. 123.
Peace and good order — See Ch. 162.
Zoning — See Ch. 240.
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance also provided for the repeal
of former Ch. 65, Amusement Devices, adopted 8-21-1995.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
Any mechanical or electronic device used or designed to be
operated for amusement or recreation by the insertion of a coin, by
the payment of money or by the payment of any other consideration,
except for coin-controlled mechanical or electronic music machines
of the type commonly known as "jukeboxes."
One or more individuals, a partnership, a company, an association
of persons or a corporation who or which allows or permits a coin-operated
amusement device owned by another to be placed, distributed or located
in his place of business under his control.
One or more individuals, a partnership, a company, an association
of persons or a corporation who or which owns, places, distributes
or locates in any place, other than his own place of business, a coin-controlled
amusement device.
Any one or more individuals, a partnership, a company, an
association of persons or a corporation who or which actually owns
and has title to any coin-controlled amusement device and who or which
receives all the profits from the operation of such device or machine
used and operated in his own place of business.
One or more individuals, a partnership, a company, an association
of persons or a corporation.
A.
Notwithstanding
any other provision of this chapter, no person shall place or deliver
for use or permit the use of any coin-controlled amusement device
upon any premises in the City of Saratoga Springs until:
(1)
The location of the establishment or premises where the devices shall
be located shall have been approved by the Commissioner of Public
Safety and the Commissioner of Accounts.
(2)
A license in accordance with this section to use or permit the use
of such device upon any premises within said City has been obtained
from the Commissioner of Accounts by the owner or operator of such
device.
B.
No
license shall be granted for any establishment or premises where such
device is to be operated if located within 500 feet of the lot lines
of a public or private school, unless otherwise approved by the Commissioner
of Accounts.
A.
The
owner or distributor of any such coin-controlled amusement device
who desires to distribute or place any such device for use shall make
application to the Commissioner of Accounts for such permission upon
blanks to be furnished by him, giving the following information:
(1)
The name and address of the owner or distributor and such additional
information as the Commissioner of Accounts may require.
(2)
The location of the establishment where the device or devices are
to be located, the business name of the establishment (if applicable)
and the number of devices to be located at that establishment.
(3)
The name and residence of the person having responsible charge of
the premises upon which the device is proposed to be located for use
and the location of said premises by street and number.
B.
The
Commissioner of Accounts may require such further information as he
may deem reasonably necessary. In addition, the Commissioner of Accounts
shall have the authority to require a fire inspection in appropriate
cases where such inspection would not otherwise be required.
The Commissioner of Accounts, upon the receipt of any such application,
may issue a license to the applicant to place and permit the use upon
the premises designated in the application of the coin-controlled
amusement device described therein, in the manner therein specified
and in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.
A.
The
Commissioner of Accounts shall not issue a license hereunder until
the sum of $30 for each licensed device shall have been paid to the
City of Saratoga Springs for each device up to and including 10 in
number. If more than 10 machines or devices are to be licensed, then
the total fee to be paid shall be $300, plus $25 per device licensed
for said premises after number 10. For licenses issued after July
1 in any year, the license fees shall be 50% of those heretofore stated
in this subsection.
B.
All
licenses issued under this chapter shall expire on the 31st day of
December next succeeding the date of their issuance.
C.
(Reserved)
A licensee may, at any time, apply to the Commissioner of Accounts for an amendment to increase or decrease the number of devices in operation at an approved location and/or to add one or more locations to his license. Any application for such an amendment shall be subject to the same review, approval and regulation as the original license and shall be accompanied by any fees required under § 65-5 for any devices added. The Commissioner of Accounts may, in his discretion, require such additional information about the amendment as he may deem reasonably necessary.
A.
The
Commissioner of Accounts may revoke any license issued by him under
this chapter for violation of any of the sections of this chapter.
The Commissioner shall notify the license holder, in writing, of his
intent to revoke the license and shall, if requested by the license
holder, hold a hearing to determine the propriety of revoking the
license. He shall then notify the license holder, in writing, of his
determination after the hearing is held.
B.
The
Commissioner of Accounts may, at any time, hold a hearing to determine
the propriety of issuing or renewing a license under this chapter.
He shall notify the applicant, in writing, of his determination after
the hearing is held.
A.
Any
operator or owner who violates any of the provisions of this chapter,
in addition to the revocation of his license, shall be subject to
a fine not to exceed $500. Each day on which such violation continues
shall constitute a separate offense.
B.
Any
distributee who, having knowledge that an unlicensed coin-controlled
amusement device is in operation in his place of business or any place
under his control, allows or permits said device to remain there in
operation shall be subject to a fine not to exceed $500.
In the event that a renewal of license has not been obtained
30 days after expiration or 10 days after an unlicensed device is
noted, the Commissioner of Accounts will send a certified letter,
return receipt requested, to the owner or operator of said machines
and a certified letter, return receipt requested, to the business
owner of the premises stating that the device will have to be licensed
or removed within 30 days. If there is no response to the certified
letter, return receipt requested, advising of unlicensed devices,
the City may confiscate said devices and have said devices removed
from the premises at the device-owner's expense and stored. If,
after 30 days of seizure, the devices are still in storage and unlicensed,
the devices may be sold at public auction to the highest bidder.
The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to an owner which
shall be a not-for-profit or educational corporation chartered under
the Not-For-Profit Corporation Law of the State of New York or under
§ 213 of the Education Law of the State of New York.
