Avenal Municipal Code Ch. 1 Amusement Devices

Sections:

• 5-1.01 Mechanical amusement device defined.
• 5-1.02 Licenses—Required.
• 5-1.03 Licenses—Issuance—Revocation—Fees.
• 5-1.04 Licenses—Posting.
• 5-1.05 Exceptions.
• 5-1.06 Certain gambling devices prohibited.
• 5-1.07 Tokens—Use prohibited.
• 5-1.08 Tokens—Sale or distribution prohibited. 5-1.01 Mechanical amusement device defined. For the purposes of this chapter, "mechanical amusement device" shall mean any machine or device which, upon the insertion of a coin, slug, token, plate, or disc, may be operated by the public generally by manipulating special equipment whereby a score is established, the object of which is to secure a special number or numbers or a high total score when the element of skill in such manipulation predominates over chance or luck. 5-1.02 Licenses—Required. Every person displaying for public patronage, or keeping for operation, any mechanical amusement device, shall first obtain a license from the City upon the payment of a license fee. Applications for such licenses shall be made to the Police Chief. 5-1.03 Licenses—Issuance—Revocation—Fees. Every applicant for a license to display or keep for operation any mechanical amusement device, before being granted such license, shall pay a quarterly fee of Ten and no/100ths ($10.00) Dollars per machine for the privilege of operating or maintaining for operation each such mechanical amusement device. Quarterly license fees shall not be prorated for parts of quarterly license periods. Such licenses so issued shall be purely permissive and shall not grant the licensee any fixed interest or property rights therein. Such licenses shall be revocable at any time by the Police Chief. The Police Chief may, at his discretion, limit, revoke, refuse, take up, or fail to issue a license to any applicant at any time if, in the judgment of the Police Chief, it appears to the best interests of the public health, safety, and morals of the people of the City that such action be taken. 5-1.04 Licenses—Posting. The licenses required by the provisions of this chapter shall be posted permanently and conspicuously at the location of the machine in the premises wherein such device is to be operated or maintained for operation.

Title 5 PUBLIC WELFARE Avenal, California, Code of Ordinances Page 3 5-1.05 Exceptions. The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to any vending machine so operated as to sell and deliver merchandise only, which merchandise is equivalent in market value to the value of the coin deposited, without the payment or delivery of anything except the merchandise therein kept for sale. 5-1.06 Certain gambling devices prohibited. The provisions of this chapter shall in no way be construed to authorize, license, or permit any gambling device whatsoever, or any mechanism which has been judicially determined to be a gambling device or is in any way contrary to law, or which may be contrary to any future law of the State. Mechanical amusement devices shall be used for amusement purposes only. Payoffs shall be in violation of the provisions of this chapter. 5-1.07 Tokens—Use prohibited. The use of tokens or other devices to operate coin-operated machines within the City is prohibited. (Ord. 83-03 (part), 1983) 5-1.08 Tokens—Sale or distribution prohibited. The sale or other distribution of tokens to operate coin-operated machines within the City is prohibited. (Ord. 83-03 (part), 1983)