§ 26-942. Same—Billiard, pool and bagatelle parlors.

(a)

Every person who shall keep or operate a place wherein there is a table at which billiards, pool or bagatelle are played shall be deemed to keep a billiard room and shall pay a license fee as set forth in Appendix A to this Code or a license tax equal to $0.36 per $100.00 of the gross receipts of the business, as provided in Section 26-871.

(b)

This section shall not apply to business establishments or clubs in which not more than three coin-operated tables at which billiards, pool or bagatelle are played and where the keeping of such billiard, pool or bagatelle tables is incidental to the operation of the business establishment or club.

(c)

Every person required to be licensed under this section to conduct, manage or operate any billiard room within the City shall follow the following procedure:

(1)

Apply, in writing, to the Circuit Court of the City or a judge thereof in vacation and the Chief of Police, setting forth the following:

a.

The place at which such business shall be conducted.

b.

The name and residence of the person proposing to conduct, manage or operate the business and that such person is fit to conduct the business.

(2)

The court or judge and the Chief of Police shall render an opinion, following an investigation, that the place is suitable and the person is fit to conduct, manage or operate the business and that such person will conform to all of the requirements made by law concerning the conduct of billiard rooms.

(3)

The court or judge and the Chief of Police shall issue a certificate of those facts for presentation to the Director of Finance by the applicant.

(4)

The license taxes indicated in Subsection (a) of this section will be assessed, and upon payment to the Collector such person shall be issued a license to conduct, manage or operate the business at the place mentioned in the application.

(d)

Every person obtaining a license to operate a billiard room within the City shall operate such establishment only during the hours and in the manner as authorized pursuant to Chapter 3, Article III.

(e)

It shall be unlawful for any person to bet or participate in unlawful gaming in any such billiard room, and it shall be unlawful for any proprietor or person in charge of any such room to permit or suffer betting or unlawful gaming of any kind whatsoever to occur therein. For any violation of this subsection, the license of the person conducting the billiard room shall be revoked, provided that such violation is with the knowledge or consent of the proprietor or of the person in charge. Both the person guilty of betting or unlawful gaming and the person conducting the room shall be liable to the penalty imposed for violating this article.

(Code 1993, § 27-382; Code 2004, § 98-714)

Cross reference— Billiard, pool and bagatelle rooms, § 3-44 et seq.

(Code 1993, § 27-382; Code 2004, § 98-714)

Cross reference

Billiard, pool and bagatelle rooms, § 3-44 et seq.