[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee of the Township of Readington 8-1-1963.
Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Alcoholic beverages — See Ch.
66.
Uniform construction codes — See Ch.
96.
No person or persons, firm, association, club or corporation shall maintain,
operate, conduct or pursue the business or occupation of keeping any public
room or place wherein the games commonly known as "pool" or "billiards" and
variations thereof are played without having first obtained a license therefor
from the Township Committee of the Township of Readington as hereinafter provided.
An application for a license shall be filed with the Township Clerk,
on forms to be furnished by him, which forms shall require to be included
the following information:
A. The name and address of the applicant.
B. In the case of a partnership, it shall state the names
and addresses of all partners.
C. In the case of a corporation, it shall state the names
and addresses of the officers, directors and all stockholders presently holding
stock and all who for six months prior to the making of said application have
been officers, directors or stockholders.
D. In the case of clubs or associations, it shall state
the names and addresses of all officers.
E. Whether or not the person or persons named in the application
have ever been convicted of a violation of any federal, state or municipal
law.
F. The location of the premises to be licensed.
G. The number of pool tables and billiard tables to be located
upon the premises to be licensed.
A. All licenses herein provided for shall be issued by the
Township Clerk only after a resolution of the Township Committee of the Township
of Readington shall have been adopted approving said application and only
after the payment of the license fee herein provided for.
B. All such licenses shall be valid from the first day of
February of the year in which the license is issued until the 31st day of
January next after the same is issued, unless sooner revoked.
C. No licenses shall be issued or renewed unless the Township
Committee finds that the operation or proposed operation of the pool hall
or billiard room shall not be detrimental to the public health, safety, welfare
or morals and that the owners and operators of the same are persons of good
moral character.
Such license shall bear the date of issue, the name of the licensee,
the purpose for which issued and the location of the room or building wherein
the licensee is authorized to carry on and conduct any such business. Such
license shall not be transferable by the holder to any other person or persons,
firm, association or corporation, but such license may be transferred by the
holder to another address, provided that the licensee shall make written application
for such transfer to the Township Clerk, and such transfer is approved by
resolution of the Township Committee of the Township of Readington.
The annual fees to be paid for such license are hereby fixed as follows:
A. For the first pool or billiard table located upon the
premises to be licensed, the sum of $25.
B. For each additional pool or billiard table located upon
the premises to be licensed, the sum of $5.
A. The Township Committee of the Township of Readington
may suspend or revoke the license of any licensee on any one or more of the
following grounds:
(1) Violation of any of the laws of the State of New Jersey
upon the licensed premises by the licensee or its agents, servants, employees
or representatives.
(2) Violation of any ordinance of the Township of Readington
upon the licensed premises by the licensee or its agents, servants, employees
or representatives.
(3) If said license was procured by fraudulent conduct or
false statement of a material fact or if a fact concerning applicant was not
disclosed at the time of filing the application where such fact would have
constituted just cause for refusing to issue said license.
(4) Permitting or suffering any activity upon the licensed
premises which is or may be detrimental to the public health, safety, welfare
or morals.
B. In all such cases, written notice of the charge or charges
and the time and place of hearing thereon shall be served on the licensee
either in person or by certified or registered mail addressed to the licensed
premises. No revocation or suspension shall occur unless the licensee shall
have been afforded an opportunity to be heard in his defense.
In the event that any license is suspended or revoked, the licensee
shall not be permitted to the return of any portion of the license fee.
Any premises which shall be declared to be unsafe by the written report
of the Code Enforcement Officer or a fire hazard by the written report of
the Fire Subcode Official shall be deemed to be ineligible for a license.
No license shall be issued for the operation of any pool or billiard
room which is located within 200 feet of any school or place of religious
worship.
The hours of operation of such pool or billiard rooms shall be between
9:00 a.m. and 12:00 midnight on weekdays and Saturdays, and all licensed pool
and billiard rooms shall remain closed on Sundays; provided, however, that
this section shall not apply to licensees duly licensed under the alcoholic
beverage laws of the State of New Jersey or of this municipality, which licensees
may be in operation during hours lawful for the sale of alcoholic beverages.
A. No person under the age of 18 years shall be permitted
to play pool or billiard in any licensed premises.
B. No person under the age of 18 years shall be admitted
to any licensed premises unless accompanied by his or her parent or guardian.
In no event shall card playing be permitted on premises licensed under
this chapter, even if such card playing is for social purposes.
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.
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 that such 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.
There shall be conspicuously posted and displayed in any premises licensed
under this chapter:
A. The license issued pursuant to this chapter.
B. A copy of this chapter, which shall be supplied to the
licensee by the Township Clerk.
C. At least one sign giving notice that no person under
the age of 18 years is permitted upon the licensed premises unless accompanied
by his or her parent or guardian.
Any person or persons, firm, association, club or corporation violating
any of the provisions of this chapter shall, upon conviction thereof, be subject
to a fine not exceeding $1,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 90
days and/or a period of community service not exceeding 90 days; and each
day such violation shall be continued shall be deemed and taken to be a separate
and distinct offense.
Any provision of this chapter which is in conflict with the alcoholic
beverage laws, rules or regulations of the State of New Jersey or of this
township shall not apply to any duly licensed purveyor of alcoholic beverages.