Chino Municipal Code Ch. 5.12 Coin-Operated Machines

For the purposes of this chapter, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them by this section:

A. "Game arcade, principal use" means any place of business containing four or more games of skill or science, whether or not associated with another use."

B. "Game arcade, accessory use" means three or less games of skill or science in a location incidental and subsidiary to a principal use.

C. "Game machine" means any machine, which, upon the insertion of a coin, slug, token, plate or disc or by payment of any type, may be operated by the public generally for use as a game, entertainment or amusement, whether or not registering a score, and shall be construed to include such devices as marble machines, shuffleboards, pinball machines, pool tables, skill ball, mechanical grab machines and all games, operations, or transactions similar thereto under whatever name they may be indicated.

D. "Person" includes any person, firm, corporation or association which owns any mechanical amusement device, the person in whose place of business any such machine is placed for use by the public, the person having control over such machine, and any person who services machines, whether or not owned by them; provided, however, that the payment of a license fee by any person enumerated herein shall be deemed a compliance with this section.

E. "Vending machine" means any automatic vending machine controlled by the insertion of a coin or coins which upon operation yields to the customer a physical product such as food, candy, or other merchandise.

(Ord. 83-13 §§ 1, 2, 1983: Ord. 79-24 § 1 (part), 1979; prior code 7-1.)

Any person displaying for public patronage or keeping for operation any game machine shall obtain a license therefor from the city upon payment of the requisite license fee. Vending machines shall be licensed based upon the gross receipts of all such machines operated by the licensee in accordance with the general business licensing provisions of this code. This license shall be in addition to the license required under Chapter 5.04.

(Ord. 83-13 § 3, 1983: Ord. 79-24 § 1 (part), 1979: prior code § 7-5.)

A. Any person desiring a license as required in Section 5.12.020 shall file an application for such license with the license collector upon a form to be supplied by the license collector for the purpose.

B. Any such application so filed shall contain the following information:

1. Name, address, age, date and place of birth and citizenship of applicant;

2. Prior convictions of applicant, if any:

3. Place where machine or device is to be displayed or operated and the business conducted at that place;

4. Description of machine to be covered by the license, mechanical features, name of manufacturer, and serial number.

(Ord. 84-20 § 6 (part), 1984: Ord. 83-73 § 4. 1983; prior code § 7-6.)

Upon the filing of an application as provided in Section 5.12.030:

A. The chief of police shall investigate the location proposed for operation of coin-operated devices and the applicant who wishes to license same to determine that the location is suitable from a law enforcement standpoint and that the applicant is a person of good moral character. The chief of police shall then forward his recommendation to the license collector.

B. The building inspector shall inspect all wiring and connections to the machine, box, or device in question and determine if the same complies with the electrical code. The building inspector shall, if the machine box, or device in question so complies, approve the application in question.

C. No license applied for shall be issued to any person unless the application has been approved by the chief of police and the building inspector as provided in this section.

(Ord. 79-24 § 1 (part), 1979; prior code § 7-7.)

A. Before the grant of a license to any person filing an application pursuant to Section 5.12.030, the applicant shall pay, for the privilege of operating or maintaining for operation a machine in question, an annual license fee as stated within the comprehensive fee schedule resolution.

B. The fees imposed by this section relate to the regulation of coin-operated devices and are imposed for regulatory purposes and revenue purposes, and are to be used for general purposes.

(Ord. 83-13 §§ 5, 6, 1983; Ord. 78-13 § 2, 1978: prior code §§ 7-8, 7-15.)

No license, as required in Section 5.08.020, shall be issued to any applicant therefor unless he shall be over twenty-one years of age and a citizen of the United States.

(Prior code § 7-9.)

Each license, as required in Section 5.12.020, shall expire each year on June 30th.

(Ord. 83-13 § 7, 1983: prior code § 7-10.)

Licenses issued under this chapter shall be posted permanently and conspicuously at the location of the machine in the premises wherein the device is to be operated or maintained to be operated.

(Ord. 83-13 § 8, 1983: prior code § 7-13.)

Every license issued under this chapter shall be subject to the right, which is expressly reserved, to revoke the same should the licenses, directly or indirectly, permit the operation of any game machine contrary to the provisions of this chapter, the ordinances of the city, or the laws of the state. Any such license may be revoked by the city council after written notice to the licensee, which notice shall specify the provisions of this chapter, the ordinance, or law violations with which the licensee is charged, if after a hearing the licensee is found to be guilty of such violations. Ten days' notice of the hearing shall be given the licensee. At such hearing the licensee and his attorney may present and submit evidence of witnesses in his defense.

(Ord. 83-13 § 9, 1983: prior code § 7-14.)

If any person holding a license issued under this chapter moves his place of business to a new location within the city, the license may be transferred to such new location upon application to the license collector, giving the street and number of the new location. The new location shall be approved by the committee on protection of persons and property and the city electrical inspector in the same manner as provided in Section 5.08.040.

(Prior code § 7-12.)

Nothing in this chapter shall in any way be 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 state.

(Prior code § 7-4.)

If the chief of police has reason to believe any mechanical amusement device is used as a gambling device, such machine may be seized by the police and impounded, and if upon trial of the exhibitor for allowing it to be used as a gambling device such exhibitor be found guilty, such machine shall be destroyed by the police.

(Prior code § 7-3.)