Hawthorne Municipal Code Ch. 5.34 Carnivals and Amusements

Every person operating an amusement arcade as defined in Section 17.04.077 of this code shall pay an annual license fee based upon the annual gross receipts set forth in Section 5.48.010 of this title per amusement machine or device.

(Ord. 1276 § 2, 1982)

Every person engaging in the business, art or practice of clairvoyance, clairaudience, magic, medium character analysis, predictions or fortunetelling, and who demands or receives a fee for the exercise or exhibition of his art therein, directly or indirectly, either as a gift, donation or otherwise, or who gives an exhibition thereof at any place where an admission fee is charged, shall pay a license fee of one hundred dollars per year or on gross receipts basis, whichever is greater; provided, however, that nothing herein shall be deemed to authorize engaging in the business of professing to reveal the future events in the life of another, or the acceptance of gratuities therefor; and provided further, that this section shall not apply to any person conducting or participating in any religious ceremony or services when such person holds a certificate, ordination or endorsement as a medium healer or clairvoyant from any bona fide church or religious association having branches or churches in other states or countries and a creed or sect of religious principles recognized by all such branches or churches, and where the fees, gratuities or profits of such ceremony or services are regularly accounted for and paid solely to or for the benefit of such church or religious association.

(Ord. 1592 § 22, 1995)

Every person conducting, managing or carrying on a boxing and wrestling exhibition shall pay a license fee of ten dollars per exhibition or on gross receipts basis, whichever is greater.

(Ord. 1592 § 24, 1995)

Every person operating a carnival, fair or similar exhibition shall pay a license fee of one hundred dollars per day, plus five dollars per day for each show, riding device and concession in excess of twenty in number.

(Prior code § 7-103)

Every person operating a children's amusement park with Ferris wheel, scenic railroad, merry-go-round, flying Jenny, swing or similar device for the amusement of children, where a fee is charged or collected for any persons thereon, shall pay a license fee of six dollars per year for each ride, machine or concession or on gross receipts basis, whichever is greater.

(Ord. 1592 § 26, 1995)

Every person operating a children's pony ride, for the amusement of children, not in connection with any established livery stable or riding academy, where a fee is charged or collected to ride such pony or ponies, shall pay a license fee of ten dollars per year for each pony or equine animal or on gross receipts basis, whichever is greater.

(Ord. 1592 § 28, 1995)

Every person operating a circus or similar exhibition shall pay a license fee of fifty dollars per day, plus five dollars per day for each side show included in such circus or exhibition for which a separate admission fee in the amount of twenty-five cents or less is charged, or plus ten dollars per day if such admission fee exceeds twenty-five cents but does not exceed fifty cents, or plus twenty dollars per day for each such admission which exceeds fifty cents.

(Prior code § 7-106)

A. License Fees. Every person engaging in any business, who permits the operation of mechanical, electrical or electronic devices having a skill or amusement feature connected therewith, and which permit the use and operation of the same by the insertion of a coin, slug or token shall pay an annual license fee based upon the annual gross receipts set forth in Section 5.48.010 of this title per amusement machine or device, in addition to any other fees imposed by this code.

B. Impounding. Any mechanical amusement device operated or maintained in violation of any law of the state, or any provisions of this code, or of any conditions upon which a permit or license may be granted or of any lawful order of the chief of police, shall be deemed to be a public nuisance and shall be impounded by the chief of police and if any court of competent jurisdiction determines that said device, or the use or operation thereof, violates or has violated any of such laws or ordinances, conditions or orders, said mechanical amusement device shall be confiscated by the chief of police. Likewise if any such device is placed, operated or maintained to be operated without a current license, the chief of police shall immediately cause the same to be impounded and shall not release said mechanical amusement device until a new permit has been obtained in the manner provided for in this code for obtaining an original permit. Mechanical amusement devices impounded under the provisions of this section shall be held for a period of thirty days, and if not redeemed within such period, may be destroyed or otherwise disposed of by the chief of police, and any proceeds obtained from the disposal thereof shall be deemed forfeited to the city to compensate it for the impounding of such device.

C. Slot Machines Prohibited. No person shall install, operate or maintain any mechanical amusement device which contains a pay-off device for the return of slugs, money, coins, checks, tokens or merchandise or any mechanical amusement device of the class commonly known as a "slot machine," or "console," and no permit or license shall be issued for any mechanical amusement device of the type mentioned in this section.

(Prior code § 7-107.; Ord. 1028 § 6, 1972; Ord. 1264 § 4, 1982; Ord. 1276 § 4, 1982)

Every person engaging in the business of operating in any place open to the public any device, machine, instrument, radio or apparatus designed, constructed or used for the purpose of producing, reproducing or playing any musical tone, tones or combinations of tones, when the use, operating or playing of such device, machine, instrument, radio or apparatus is caused, permitted or allowed by the deposit of any coin, token or other thing of value in any slot, crevice or other opening, or by the payment of any fee therefor, shall pay a license fee based on the schedule set out in Chapter 5.48 of this code.

(Prior code § 7-108.; Ord. 1028 § 8, 1972)

Every person engaging in the business of operating a shooting gallery, archery range or any other game of ball rolling, ring throwing, disc throwing or other games of skill not enumerated shall pay a license fee of fifty dollars per year or on gross receipts basis, whichever is greater.

(Ord. 1592 § 30, 1995)

Every person operating any traveling theatrical performance or any theatrical performance such as comedy, spoken drama, operas or concerts, under, surrounded or partially enclosed by a canvas or similar substance, shall pay a fee of twenty dollars per year, for each machine. Provisions of Section 5.34.080(B) shall apply to this section.

(Prior code § 7-110)

Every person engaging in the business of operating a theater shall pay a license fee of fifty dollars per year or on a gross receipts basis, whichever is greater.

(Prior code § 7-111)

Every person conducting, managing or carrying on a lecture, entertainment, show or exhibition not otherwise provided for in this chapter, for which a fee is received, directly or indirectly, either as a gift, donation or otherwise, shall pay a license fee of ten dollars per day.

(Prior code § 7-112)