[HISTORY: Adopted by the Borough Council of the Borough of Riverside 8-16-1982 by Ord. No. 82-3. Amendments noted where applicable.]
No person or persons, firm, association, partnership, corporation, or any other entity shall have at any time in his, her, its, or their possession, within the Borough of Riverside, any mechanical device, machine, or apparatus whatsoever for the playing of games and amusement, being commonly known and referred to as "amusement game machines," upon which games are played or activities conducted through the insertion of a coin, metal disc, slug or token, or otherwise activated through exchange of legal tender, or other manner, without first having procured a license as provided in this chapter.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth herein, unless the context indicates to the contrary:
AMUSEMENT GAME MACHINES
Any mechanical, electric or electronic device used or designed to be operated for entertainment or as a game by the insertion of a piece of money, coin, token or any other article or by payment of money to have it activated. This definition does not include:[1]
A. 
A jukebox.
B. 
Rides.
C. 
Bowling alleys, except coin-operated bowling machines.
D. 
Any device maintained within a residence for the use of the occupants thereof and their guests, provided the same is on a noncommercial basis and in compliance with other ordinances.
E. 
Any device, the possession or use of which is prohibited by law.
F. 
Any coin-operated machine which solely dispenses food, soda, candy, cigarettes, or any other items for personal consumption or use.
OWNER
A record owner, contract purchaser, lessee, assignee, bailee, receiver, or trustee.
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
A. 
Any person or persons, firm, association, partnership, corporation, or any other entity required to procure a license, as provided in § 90-1, shall apply for a license, in writing, to the Secretary of the Borough of Riverside. The application shall be signed by the applicant or applicants and shall set forth the name or names and residence or residences of the person or persons, firm, partnership or corporation, or other entity, conducting the operations of amusement game machines and applying for a license, together with present occupation of the applicant or applicants, length of residence within the Borough, previous place of residence, and the name and address of the owner of the premises upon which amusement game machines are to be installed and used, if the owner of the premises is not the applicant, in which event the applicant shall also set forth the length of time for which the premises has been leased.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
B. 
The application shall further set forth the manufacturer and the nature of the machine to be used and installed.
C. 
The application for each separate premises upon which the machine or machines are to be installed shall contain a nonrefundable application processing fee of $50.
A. 
No license shall be granted until a period of seven days have elapsed from the date of receipt of the application, completed in full and satisfying all of the requirements set forth hereinabove, during which time the Secretary of the Borough of Riverside may cause investigation of the facts set forth in the application through the Borough Code Enforcement Officer or Borough Police.
B. 
No license shall be granted to any person not a citizen of the United States.
Nothing in this chapter shall be in any way construed to authorize, license or permit any gambling devices whatsoever or any mechanism that has been judicially determined to be a gambling device or in any way contrary to law or that may be contrary to any future laws of the commonwealth.
No license fee shall be issued until an annual fee shall have been paid to the Borough in the sum of $50 for each and every device so installed and used under the terms of this chapter in the Borough of Riverside, which amount, when paid, shall be a license fee until December 31 of each year. Should any such device be installed after September 1 of any year, and an application be made after that date, then, in that event, the license fee for the particular year shall be the sum of $25 to December 31.
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
Upon payment of the license fee provided by this chapter above, the Secretary of the Borough of Riverside shall issue a metal disc, tab, or tag setting forth the number of the license for each machine so licensed, which disc or plate shall be used and fastened to the machine or device so that it may be clearly identified upon inspection.
It shall be the responsibility of the owner of the business conducted, or the owner of the premises if no separate entity conducts the business thereon, to apply for an annual license and make payment thereon to the Borough of Riverside by no later than January 31 of each year following the date of initial issuance.
Any person aggrieved by any decision or determination of the Borough of Riverside, or of any officer, official, agent, employee, or board created by the Borough of Riverside, regarding the provisions of this chapter has a right to appeal such decision or determination to a court of competent jurisdiction within 30 days of receipt of notice of the decision or determination, or as otherwise provided by law.
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
Neither the application processing fee nor the license fee for machines at specific locations shall be transferable to another premises, except one authorized under this chapter.
All owners or operators of present facilities, as existing, shall be required to submit an application for a license and to make payment of the application processing fee and license fee for the machine within 30 days of the date of adoption of this chapter.
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
Any person or persons, firm, partnership, corporation, or other entity found guilty of a violation of this chapter, upon conviction thereon for a summary offense before Magisterial District Judge, shall be sentenced to pay a fine of not more than $1,000, plus costs of prosecution, and, in default of payment of such fine and costs, shall be imprisoned in Northumberland County Jail for a term not to exceed 30 days, provided that each day that any machine or device, under the terms of this chapter, shall be operated and used in violation of this chapter, shall constitute a separate and distinct offense under the terms of this chapter and shall be subject to separate and distinct penalties under this section.
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).