Coalinga Municipal Code Ch. 2 Amusement Devices

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.

(§ 1, Ord. 325)

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.

(§ 4, Ord. 325)

Every applicant for a license to display or keep for operation any mechanical amusement device, before being granted such license, shall pay a quarterly license fee of five dollars ($5.00) 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, Ord. 325)

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.

(§ 6, Ord. 325)

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.

(§ 3, Ord. 325)

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.

(§ 2, Ord. 325)

(a) Definitions. For the purposes of this section, unless otherwise apparent from the context, certain words and phrases used in this section are defined as follows:

(1) "Eligible organization" shall mean an organization referred to in Section 326.5 of the Penal Code of the State.

(2) "Bingo" shall mean a game of chance operated for a fee in which prizes are awarded on the basis of designated numbers or symbols on a card which numbers or symbols conform to numbers or symbols selected at random.

(b) Laws governing. An eligible organization may conduct bingo games in compliance with this section and Section 326.5 of the Penal Code of the State.

(c) Licenses required. Before conducting a bingo game, an eligible organization shall obtain a license from the Police Chief. Applications shall be made on prescribed forms. The term of the license shall be for a period of not more than one (1) year.

(d) Fees. The Council, by resolution, may prescribe a license fee in an amount which covers the cost of issuing the license and administering this section.

(e) Investigations. Upon receiving an application, the Police Chief shall make an investigation in order to determine whether the license should be issued.

(f) Suspension or revocation. The Police Chief may suspend or revoke a license for a violation of this section; or for a false, misleading, or fraudulent statement of a material fact made either in the application for the license or in the promotion, supervision, operation, conduct, or staffing of a bingo game; or upon the refusal of the licensee to permit the entry of a peace officer to investigate the conduct of a bingo game or permit the Police Chief to review or audit the organization's records relating to the conduct of bingo games under the license and to the special account required by subsection (j) of Section 326.5 of the Penal Code of the State.

(g) Appeals. The action of the Police Chief, taken pursuant to the provisions of subsection (f) of this section, may be appealed to the Council by any person.

(h) Licenses to be displayed. The licensee shall display the license at the authorized location during all bingo games.

(i) Enforcement.

(1) Infractions. The operation of a bingo game without a license shall constitute an infraction. The first violation shall be punishable by a fine not to exceed one hundred dollars ($100.00). The second violation shall be punishable by a fine not to exceed two hundred dollars ($200.00). The third and subsequent violations shall be punishable by a fine not to exceed three hundred dollars ($300.00).

(2) Injunctions. The City may bring an action to enjoin a violation of this section.

(Ord. 482, eff. October 15, 1980)