Ventura Municipal Code Ch. 10.500 Picture Arcades 9

9 Cross reference(s): Amusements, Chapter 6.50.

Enclosed or concealed booths and unlit or dimly lit areas within picture arcades greatly increase the potential for misuse of the premises, including the potential for unlawful conduct of a type which facilitates transmission of disease. The provisions of this chapter are necessary in order to reduce the opportunity for, and therefore to reduce the incidence of, illegal conduct within picture arcades, and to facilitate the inspection of the interior of such premises by law enforcement personnel. (Code 1971, § 6291)

As used in this chapter, “picture arcade” shall mean any room to which the public can gain admittance wherein one or more coin- or slug-operated, or electrically, electronically, or mechanically controlled, still or motion picture machines or projectors or video monitors are designed, operated or maintained to show still or motion pictures or videos to five or fewer persons per machine, projector or monitor at any one time. (Code 1971, § 6292)

It shall be unlawful for any person, partnership, corporation or other entity to own, operate, maintain or manage a picture arcade, unless the complete interior of the portion of the premises where the pictures can be viewed is continuously open and fully visible to any person entering the premises containing such picture arcade. Booths within picture arcades wherein still or motion pictures are viewed are hereby prohibited. (Code 1971, § 6293)

A level of illumination established by the chief of police, based upon generally accepted lighting standards, and published in a list of rules and regulations governing picture arcades shall be maintained during hours of operation in all parts of any picture arcade which are open to the public. Said list of rules and regulations shall be available upon request to the police department. (Code 1971, § 6294)

Any picture arcade lawfully in existence on December 1, 1987, and made illegal by the provisions of this chapter shall conform to the provisions of this chapter by June 1, 1988. (Code 1971, § 6295)