Redlands Municipal Code Art. IX Coin Operated Machines

A. Fee: Every person, firm, or corporation renting, leasing or operating a coin operated machine or similar device dispensing goods, wares, merchandise or providing a service within the city shall pay a license fee based on the gross receipts therefrom as set forth in section 5.08.020 of this chapter.

B. Exemption; Local Ownership: Machines otherwise licensed under this section, maintained together and in conjunction with a business paying a license tax based on a gross receipts schedule may be operated without payment of a coin machine license tax; provided, that the machines dispensing sanitary hygienic articles or drinking cups, towels or medicines are entirely owned and supplied by the owner or operator of the premises where installed and maintained solely for the convenience of employees, visitors and customers and not for profit to him or any other person.

C. Exemption; Nonprofit: No license under this section shall be required for the maintenance or operation of machines dispensing sanitary hygienic articles or drinking cups, towels or medicines, which machines are entirely owned and supplied by the owner or operator of the premises where installed and maintained solely for the convenience of employees, visitors and customers and not for profit to him or any other person. (Ord. 2980 § 1, 2025: Prior code §§ 2281, 2281.1, 2281.2)

Nothing in this article shall be construed to permit the licensing, maintenance or operation of any coin operated machine which is forbidden by any state or local law or regulation or to permit the operation of any coin operated machine in such a manner as to constitute gambling or otherwise be contrary to any such state law or local regulation. (Ord. 2980 § 1, 2025: Prior code § 2287)

If any of the coin operated machines, devices or games licensed under this article are maintained in any store, hotel, motel, restaurant, cafe, pool hall or other commercial establishment or public place in the city, without payment of the prescribed license taxes, they may be subject to seizure by the chief of police or the city's finance director or the director's designee. Such machine or machines shall be redeemable only by the true owner thereof within a period of not exceeding sixty (60) days, upon the payment of costs to the city together with the license taxes plus penalty for the period during which such machines, devices, or games were maintained unlicensed. (Ord. 2980 § 1, 2025: Ord. 2718 § 10, 2009)

If the true owner cannot be found after reasonable inquiry, or if the owner fails to redeem, then the machine may be confiscated and sold by the city's finance director or the director's designee at the end of the sixty (60) day period, after notice by registered mail to the last known address, if any, of the owner. The proceeds of such sale shall be credited to the general fund of the city. (Ord. 2980 § 1, 2025: Ord. 2718 § 11, 2009)