[Adopted 5-27-1964 by Ord. No. 460]
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
BILLIARD HALL
A place of business open to the public at which there are two or more billiard or pool tables provided for public use and for which a price is charged for said use.
BILLIARD TABLE
Any table (whether coin-operated or not) surrounded by a ledge or cushion with or without pockets, upon which balls are impelled by a stick or cue. The licensing and regulating provisions of this article do not apply to:
A. 
Billiard tables kept in private residences or apartments and used without charge by members of the family or bona fide guests.
B. 
Billiard tables provided on the premises of religious, charitable, educational or fraternal organizations for the use of members or their guests and not for private profit, although a charge is made for playing.
C. 
Billiard tables provided on the premises of bona fide clubs or social organizations not operated for private profit, which provide other membership privileges and activities usually in bona fide private clubs, although a charge is made for playing.
No person shall operate a billiard hall within the Township without a license as herein provided.
[Amended 10-20-1992 by Ord. No. 92-17]
A. 
Application for a billiard hall license shall be filed with the Office of Licenses, Zoning and Inspections, in writing, verified by the affidavit of the applicant. The application shall give the name, age, citizenship and residence of the applicant and shall state whether he has ever been convicted of a felony or a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude. If the proposed licensee is a partnership, all partners shall sign and verify the application and the foregoing information shall be given as to all partners. If the proposed licensee is a corporation, the applicant shall be its principal officer and the application shall give the foregoing information as to every person owning 20% or more of the capital stock and shall give the state of the incorporation and address of the principal office. The application shall also give the address at which the billiard hall is to be operated, the assumed name, if any, under which the business is to be conducted and the number of tables to be used.
B. 
The application shall be accompanied by payment of an application fee which shall be set from time to time by ordinance or resolution of the Township Council,[1] which shall not be returned, but which shall be credited on the license fee for the first year if the license is issued.
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 101, Fees.
C. 
The Office of Licenses, Zoning and Inspections shall refer the application to the Chief of Police. All persons whose records might prevent issuance of the license under § 55-12 hereof shall be fingerprinted by the Police Department. The Chief of Police shall determine whether application meets the requirements of this article as to qualifications of the licensee and location of the premises to be licensed and shall certify his findings to the Office of Licenses, Zoning and Inspections, which shall issue or refuse the license accordingly.
The license shall not be issued if the applicant, any partner or the principal officer or any owner of 20% or more of the capital stock of the corporation:
A. 
Has been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor involving moral turpitude;
B. 
Is not of good moral character;
C. 
Was the owner, part owner, principal officer or stockholder having 20% or more of the stock of a billiard hall in the Township of Bristol or elsewhere, the license of which was revoked within the previous five years;
D. 
Is not a citizen of the United States; or
E. 
Is under 21 years of age.
No license shall be issued for any location where the proposed operation would be in violation of Chapter 205, Zoning, or for any location in a basement or other room wholly or partly below the level of the street.
[Amended 10-20-1992 by Ord. No. 92-17]
The fee for each license shall be set from time to time by ordinance or resolution of the Township Council.[1] Fees shall not be prorated or refunded.
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 101, Fees.
A. 
A license may be transferred to a different lawful location upon sworn application and payment of a transfer as shall be set from time to time by ordinance or resolution of the Township Council.[1] Licenses may not be transferred to a different licensee.
[Amended 10-20-1992 by Ord. No. 92-17]
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 101, Fees.
B. 
A license issued to a partnership is not voided by withdrawal of one or more partners so long as one of the original partners remains; but if a new partner becomes a member, a new license is required unless he already holds a license.
C. 
A license issued to a corporation is voided if an unqualified person becomes the principal officer or acquires 20% or more of the capital stock.
D. 
All changes in the membership of the partnership and all changes in the identify of the principal officer of the corporation or the ownership of 20% or more of its stock shall be reported to the Office of Licenses, Zoning and Inspections within 10 days after they occur.
[Amended 10-20-1992 by Ord. No. 92-17]
[Amended 10-20-1992 by Ord. No. 92-17]
The applicant for the license shall file with the Office of Licenses, Zoning and Inspections a sworn list of the persons to be employed by him, giving the name, age, citizenship, residence and information as to convictions required by § 55-11. The list shall be referred to the Chief of Police and the proposed employees shall be fingerprinted by the Police Department. The Chief of Police shall determine whether each of the proposed employees meets the qualifications required of the operator of a billiard hall under § 55-12 and shall certify his findings to the Office of Licenses, Zoning and Inspections, which shall authorize employment of the persons who qualify. In like manner, after an operator's license is issued, the licensee shall obtain authorization for the employment of any person whom he intends to employ and who has not been previously so authorized for employment. It shall be unlawful for any person to serve as an employee in a billiard hall during the hours of operation or to employ any person to serve during said hours without the authorization herein required.
[Amended 10-20-1992 by Ord. No. 92-17]
After reasonable notice and opportunity to be heard, the Director of the Office of Licenses, Zoning and Inspections may revoke or suspend the license of any billiard hall operator for operating in violation of this article or for any cause for which application for such license could have been denied or for permitting violations of this article by players or spectators in the billiard hall.
A. 
Every billiard hall shall have unobstructed windows or open space on at least one side so that the area is open to view by members of the public passing by on a public street or using a corridor, lobby or other room to which the public resorts and is admitted without charge. The licensee shall not permit any obstruction of such public view by the use of drawn shades, blinds, screens, partitions or other structures.
B. 
At all times when the billiard hall is open for play, the area within 10 feet of every billiard table shall be lighted with artificial or natural light of an intensity of at least 20 footcandles.
No boy under the age of 17 years and no girl under the age of 18 years shall be in any billiard hall unless accompanied by his or her parent or legal guardian.
Billiard halls shall not be open except during the following hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 midnight; Saturday, 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m.; and no person shall play billiards or pool therein except during such hours.
No person while in a billiard hall shall gamble or make any bet.
Any person who shall violate this article and any owner, operator or person in charge of a billiard hall who shall knowingly allow any other person to violate §§ 55-19, 55-20 or 55-21 hereof shall suffer a suspension of his license to operate for a period of 10 days upon the first offense, a suspension for 30 days upon the second offense and revocation of license for the third offense.