Township of Westampton, NJ Chapter 85 Amusement Devices

[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee of the Township of Westampton 8-22-1995 by Ord. No. 14-1995. Amendments noted where applicable.]

§ 85-1 Definitions.

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

MECHANICAL AMUSEMENT DEVICE

Any machine operated mechanically, electronically, electrically, automatically or otherwise which, upon the insertion of a coin, slug, token, plate or disk, may be operated by the public generally for use as a game, entertainment or amusement, whether or not registering a score. Said mechanical amusement devices shall include but not be limited to those devices commonly known as "pinball," "bagatelle," "baseball" or "pin amusement machines" and "photoelectric shooting" or "target machines." It shall include video-type games or machines or similar devices that use a display screen for points, lines and dots of light that can be manipulated to simulate games or other types of entertainment.

PUBLIC OR QUASI-PUBLIC PLACE

Any building, store or other place wherein the public is invited or wherein the public may enter, including premises used as a clubhouse or a clubroom by members of any organization.

§ 85-2 License required.

The keeping, placing, operation, maintenance or use of all mechanical amusement devices in any public or quasi-public place without having first obtained a license for that purpose according to the terms and conditions of this chapter shall be unlawful.

§ 85-3 License application; fee; required display.

A. The owner or lessee of any public or quasi-public place in which is to be located mechanical amusement devices shall apply for a license by using the application forms to be furnished by the Municipal Clerk. Said application forms shall set forth the name and address of the owner of the premises and the owner of the machine, a description of the machine and the estimated length of service of said machine in said public or quasi-public place and shall set forth any and all information necessary to effectuate the terms and conditions of this chapter. Upon review of said application as to whether said application satisfactorily conforms to the requirements of the chapter and upon payment of the requisite fee, the Municipal Clerk shall issue the license in a form to be determined by the Municipal Clerk. Said licenses shall be issued to and in the name of the owner or lessee of the machine.

B. The fee for the issuance of such licenses shall be $50 per year for each machine, and such licenses shall expire on January 31 of each year. There shall be no proration of the license fee.

C. No mechanical amusement device may be kept, placed, operated, maintained or used until the license as issued by the Municipal Clerk is affixed thereto in a conspicuous place so that the same can be easily and quickly identified.

§ 85-4 Violations and penalties.

Any person violating any of the provisions of this chapter shall, upon conviction thereof, be punishable by a fine not to exceed the sum of $500, at the discretion of the court. Each day that the violation shall occur shall be deemed to be a separate offense.