Art. I. In General, Secs. 4-1--4-11
Art. II. Game Rooms, Amusement Rooms, Jukeboxes, Secs. 4-12--4-29
Div. 1. Generally, Secs. 4-12--4-22
Div. 2. License, Secs. 4-23--4-29
Art. III. Reserved, Secs. 4-30--4-34
(a) All licenses for the showing of motion pictures shall be issued only after approval by the city council.
(b) License fees for the showing of motion picture in theaters within the city shall be the sum of two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00) for the first screen and one hundred dollars ($100.00) for each additional screen at the same location, per year, payable annually, in advance. (Ch. No. 1205, Sec. 1, 11-4-57; Ch. No. 3067, Sec. 1, 2-17-75; Ch. No. 6023, Sec. 1, 2-20-95)
State law reference--Shows and exhibitions, G.L. 1956, Sec. 5-22-1 et seq.
Cross reference--Licenses and permits, Ch. 13.
(Editor's note--Section 15 of Ch. No. 4040, adopted Aug. 2, 1982, reads as follows: "This ordinance supersedes the provisions of Chapter 4, Article II of the Code of Ordinances, City of Woonsocket, Rhode Island entitled, "Coin-Operated Machines and Devices"; and all sums paid thereunder shall be prorated at eighty-five cents ($0.85) per month for the period from September 1, 1982, to June 30, 1983, and refunded to the licensee." Article II was formerly derived from Ch. 2339, Secs. 1--3, adopted Sept. 3, 1968, and Ch. 3356, Sec. 1, adopted June 6, 1977. Sections 1--14 of Ch. No. 4040 have been added as a new art. II.)
(a) The term "amusement game" shall mean any mechanical, electric, video and electronic machine or device used or designed to be operated for entertainment or as a game by the insertion of money, token or other article or by paying money to have it activated; it shall include but not be limited to marble machines, pinball machines, skill ball, mechanical grab machines, video or computer type games, electronically operated or displayed games, air games and all operations similar thereto; it shall not include any rides, bowling alleys, or pool tables, or any device maintained within a residence for the use of the occupants thereof and their guests.
(b) The term "game room" shall mean any structure or portion of a structure or a place containing four (4) or more amusement games.
(c) The term "juke box" shall mean any music machine, contrivance or device which by the insertion of money, token or other article or by paying money to have it activated operates or may be operated for the emission of songs, music or similar amusement;
(d) The term "person" shall mean one (1) or more individuals, a corporation, partnership, association, trust or firm. (Ch. No. 4040, Sec. 2, 8-2-82)
The owner and operator of game rooms shall comply with the following requirements:
(a) Comply with all provisions of law, ordinance, rule or regulation relating to the conduct of business and the use and maintenance of the premises.
(b) Cause the game room license to be posted at all times in a conspicuous place on the premises.
(c) Not permit said premises to be overcrowded.
(d) The owner and operator of any game room, and the members, officers, directors and holders of ten (10) per cent or more of the stock of any corporation, partnership or association owning or operating a game room shall be of good moral character.
(e) Maintain good order on the premises at all times. The lack of good order on the premises of a game room shall include but shall not be limited to the following:
(1) Fighting and rowdy behavior.
(2) Possession or consumption of alcoholic beverages, except within premises licensed for on-premises consumption of those beverages.
(3) Gambling.
(4) Permitting the use of marijuana or any controlled substance possession of which is prohibited by law.
(f) Not permit an amusement game therein to be played or operated after 10:00 p.m. by a person under the age of sixteen (16) unless accompanied by and under the supervision of a parent or other guardian over the age of twenty-one (21).
(g) Not allow a game room to be open or used unless it is under the control of and supervision by a person at least eighteen (18) years of age who shall ensure that it is operated in compliance with law.
(h) Not allow a game room to be open or the amusement games therein played on any day between the hours of 1:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m.
(i) Not allow more amusement games than the number permitted in the license to be located therein at any time. (Ch. No. 4040, Sec. 9, 8-2-82)
The owner and operator of amusement games shall comply with the following requirements:
(a) Comply with all provisions of law, ordinance, rule or regulation applicable thereto and relating to the conduct of the business in connection with which the game is used and the use and maintenance of the premises where it is located.
(b) Maintain good order on the premises at all times. The lack of good order on the premises shall include but not be limited to the following:
(1) Fighting and rowdy behavior.
(2) Possession or consumption of alcoholic beverages, except upon premises licensed for on-premises consumption thereof.
(3) Gambling.
(4) Permitting the use of marijuana or any controlled substance possession of which is prohibited by law.
(c) Not permit it to be played or operated after 10:00 p.m. by a person under the age of sixteen (16) unless accompanied by and under the supervision of a parent or other guardian over the age of twenty-one (21).
(d) Not allow it to be available for use or used unless it is under the control of and supervision by a person at least eighteen (18) years of age, who shall ensure that it is operated in compliance with law.
(e) No cash awards shall be offered or given in any contest, tournament, league or individual play on any amusement game; and no such game shall be permitted to operate if said game delivers or may readily be converted to deliver to the player any piece of money, coin, slug or token.
(f) No credit, allowance, check, slug, token or anything of value shall be offered or given to any player of any amusement game as a result of plays made thereon. (Ch. No. 4040, Sec. 10, 8-2-82)
The premises of all game rooms in the city shall be subject to inspection by any peace officer, acting pursuant to his special duties, or police officers. Any other premises in the city containing amusement games shall be subject to inspection by any peace officer, acting pursuant to his special duties, or police officer. (Ch. No. 4040, Sec.1 1, 8-2-82)
If the licensed person shall permit the place where any game room, amusement game or jukebox is located to become disorderly so as to annoy and disturb persons inhabiting, working or residing in the neighborhood thereof, or shall permit any of the laws of the State of Rhode Island or the City of Woonsocket to be violated therein, in addition to any punishment, penalty or penalties which may be prescribed by statute for such offense, the licensee may be summoned before the city council, where the licensee and the witnesses for and against the licensee may be heard; and if it shall be made to appear to the satisfaction of the city council hearing such charges that the licensee has permitted to be done any of the things hereinbefore prescribed, the city council may suspend or revoke the license or licenses or enter other orders thereon. (Ch. No. 4040, Sec. 12, 8-2-82)
Every person who or which shall maintain or operate any game room, amusement game or jukebox, in any place or for any purpose set forth in section 4-23(a) hereof, without such license first had and obtained, shall be subject to a penalty not exceeding in amount one hundred dollars ($100.00) or imprisonment not exceeding thirty (30) days for any one(1) offense. (Ch. No 4040, Sec. 14, 8-2-82)
(a) On or after September 1, 1982, no person shall maintain or operate a game room, amusement game or jukebox in the city without first obtaining a license.
(b) Every person maintaining or operating a game room, amusement device or jukebox shall first obtain an annual license from the city. (Ch. No. 4040, Secs. 1, 3, 8-2-82)
An application for amusement game, game room and jukebox license shall be made on forms containing the following information:
(a) Name, age and address of applicant; names and addresses of officers if a corporation or association.
(b) The place where each machine or device is to be displayed or operated and the business conducted at such place.
(c) Description of machine to be covered by the license, mechanical features and serial number thereof. (Ch. No. 4040, Sec. 5, 8-2-82)
No license shall be issued to any individual unless he be over the age of eighteen (18) years and a citizen of the United States. (Ch. No. 4040, Sec. 6, 8-2-82)
No license shall be issued or renewed until such time as the personal property tax or taxes assessed against such game room, amusement game and jukebox to be owned or kept according to the provisions of this article have been paid. (Ch. No. 4040, Sec. 13, 8-2-82)
Licenses granted shall continue for a term not exceeding one (1) year, commencing September 1 of each year and ending August 31 the following year, upon payment of the following amount for each respective license and any renewal thereof:
(a) Amusement games, fifty dollars ($50.00) each unit.
(b) Game room, five hundred dollars ($500.00) each place.
(c) Jukebox, twenty-five dollars ($25.00) each unit. (Ch. No. 4040, Sec. 4, 8-2-82)
Every machine on display or operated shall require a license, which license shall be displayed on each machine so licensed or in a conspicuous place at said location. (Ch. No. 4040, Sec. 7, 8-2-82)
No machine or device which would constitute a gambling device as defined by title 11-19-18 of the General Laws of Rhode Island, 1956, or any other section of the General Laws, shall be licensed by the city. (Ch. No. 4040, Sec. 8, 8-2-82)
(Editor's note--formerly, Art. III, Secs. 4-30--4-34, pertained to adult cabaret licensing and was derived from Ch. No. 5566, Sec. 1, adopted Apr. 6, 1992. Such provisions were deleted by Ch. No. 5878, Sec. 1(b), adopted Apr. 18, 1994.)