Torrance Municipal Code Art. 5 Amusement, Vending and Service Machines

No license shall be issued for any lottery, gaming device or other article or device which violates any of the provisions of either the Penal Code of the State of California, or Section 45.5.4. of this City Code.

A license shall be obtained for each and every other such coin-operated music vending machine and each slot of each coin-operated vending and service machine or device by the owner of such machine, or the person in whose place of business such machine, or slot device is located, and any person having control over such machine shall be liable to pay the license tax therefor; provided, however, that the payment of any such tax as may be hereinafter required shall be deemed a compliance with this Section.

Every person required to have a license by the provisions of this Article shall file with the License Supervisor a list of all the amusement and coin-operated machines placed within the City by or for such person, giving the exact location and number, type and serial number of such machines.

Every person required to have a license by the provisions of this Article shall place a label or card on each amusement or coin-operated machine in plain sight, bearing the name, address and telephone number of such person.

The License Supervisor shall issue one (1) stamp or label for each machine operated by a licensee, which stamp or label shall be affixed thereto to indicate that the required fee has been paid for each current year. The License Supervisor shall seal the coin opening or slot on each machine not bearing such a label. The license shall not be transferable from one machine to another.

(Amended by O-2288; O-2843)

It shall be unlawful for any person to remove any such seals affixed by the provisions of this Article. A service charge of $17.00 shall be paid to the City by the owner or operator of any such machine or device for removal of such seals. Upon payment of the required business tax and $17.005 service charge, the License Supervisor or his designated representative shall remove such seals.

(Amended by O-1620; O-1700; O-1725; O-2075; O-2288; O-2843; O-2900; O-2944; O-2945)

a) The license tax for amusement machines shall be as follows:

1. For machines which require ten (10) cents or less to operate same, the license tax shall be $11.00* per slot per machine per year.

2. For machines which require eleven (11) cents or more to operate same, the license tax shall be $64.00* per slot per machine per year.

A license tax shall be payable under this Section for the maintenance of any amusement machine, device, apparatus or any pin marble game, table or board, or any combination amusement and vending machine, device, apparatus or pin marble game, table or board for use by the public except such machines, apparatus or devices as coin-operated music vending and service and stamp machines, the operation or use of which is permitted, controlled, allowed or made possible by the deposit or placing of any coin, plate, disc, slug or key into any slot, crevice or other opening or by the payment of any fee or fees.

(Amended by O-1620; O-2843; O-2900; O-2944; O-2945)

The license tax for coin-operated music machines shall be $47.00* per year.

(Amended by O-1620; O-2800; O-2843; O-2900; O-2944; O-2945)

a) For machines which require not less than six (6) cents nor over ten (10) cents to operate same, the license tax shall be $11.00* per slot, per machine per year.

b) For machines which require eleven (11) cents and over to operate same, the license tax shall be $20.00* per slot per machine per year.

c) For machines which require one (1) to five (5) cents to operate same, the license tax shall be $6.00 per slot per machine per year.

d) The license tax for a stamp machine shall be $6.00* per machine per year.

e) The license tax for a scale or weighing machine shall be $3.00* per machine per year.

f) The license tax for a map vending machine shall be $11.00* per year.

g) The license tax for a cigarette vending machine shall be $22.00* per year.

(Added by O-1943; Amended by O-2288; O-2843; O-2900; O-2944; O-2945)

Bulk Vending Machine definition and fee: A non-electrically operated vending machine unit, dispensing assorted confections, nuts or merchandise in equal but random portion, and which contains no more than one (1) coin slot, is construed to be a bulk vending machine, and the license tax shall be $6.00* per year.

(Added by O-2944; O-2945)

The license tax for coin-operated machines which are located in one fixed place of business and which are owned by one person shall not be more than $3,850.006 per year.