Subtitle 2 – Amusements

No billiard, bagatelle, pool, manhattan, klondike, or rondo table may be erected, set up, kept, or in any respect whatever used for the purpose of gain or public entertainment within the City without a license previously obtained from the Director of Consumer Protection and Business Licensing.

Every license granted under this section terminates on January 1 annually.

For every license granted under this section, the person obtaining it shall pay to the Director of Finance for the use of the City $130 for each billiard, bagatelle, pool, manhattan, klondike, or rondo table.

to allow any person or persons to play on or use any pool or billiard table between the hours of 1 a.m. and 7 a.m.; or

knowingly to allow a minor to play on or use any pool or billiard table, or play at any game in that saloon, or be on the premises, at any time.

No person may erect, set up, keep, maintain, or in any respect whatever use for amusement or entertainment within the City, any bowling saloon, bowling alley, nine- or ten-pin alley, or any other device or structure, in or upon which 1 or more pins are set up, for the purpose of casting, throwing, pushing, or rolling against the pin or pins, 1 or more balls or other missiles, without having obtained a license therefor.

For this license there shall be annually paid a sum computed at the rate of $40 for each separate “lane” or “alley”, with a minimum license fee for any 1 location or premises to be $100 annually.

Nothing in this section, however, shall be construed to require any bona fide religious, charitable, educational, or medical institution, operating 7 or fewer “lanes” or “alleys” to obtain a license, as long as any proceeds from the operation of these “lanes” or “alleys” are devoted to charitable purposes exclusively or in furtherance of the purposes of that institution.

to allow any person to play on or use the alley, device, or structure, in any manner whatever, after 2 a.m. and before sunrise in the morning; or

to allow any minor under 14 years of age to play on or use the bowling alley, device, or structure after 11 p.m. and before sunrise in the morning, unless in the custody of a parent, guardian, or adult.

In this Part 3, the following terms have the meanings indicated.

“Director” means the Director of Consumer Protection and Business Licensing or the Director’s designee.

“Simulated slot machine” means any amusement device equipped with a knock-off device that enables an owner or custodian of the device to remove free plays or other game credits accumulated by a winning player.

No person may own, control, or possess more than 5 simulated slot machines unless that person first obtains from the Director a master’s license.

A device may be transferred to another licensee or to another location on:

The owner of any amusement device that is located in the City must register that device with the Director.

The owner must report to the Director, within 30 days of the event:

Each license issued and each registration filed under this Part 3 expires annually on December 31, unless renewed.

The application for renewal of a license or registration must be made in the form that the Director requires.

The annual fee or tax for less than a full initial year is prorated quarterly.

No refunds, in whole or in part, may be made of any of the fees or taxes paid under this Part 3.

securely affixed to the device; or

prominently displayed on the premises.

The rules and regulations adopted under <cite data-path="|15|§2-17">§ 2-17 of this subtitle</cite> shall establish, subject to the appropriation of funds as approved by the Board of Estimates, a bounty program to reward persons who report devices being operated without the license or registration required by this Part.

The reward for a report shall be a set percentage, as specified in the rules and regulations but not to exceed 50%, of all fines and penalties that the City collects as a result of the report.

If an amusement device is operated without a license or registration required by this subtitle, the Director shall issue a written order to the proprietor or other person in charge of the premises to:

The Director may confiscate the amusement device or render it inoperable if:

Any person who violates any provision of this Part 3 or of a rule or regulation adopted under this Part 3 is guilty of a misdemeanor and, on conviction, is subject to a fine of not more than $1,000 for each offense.

Each day that a violation continues is a separate offense.

It is unlawful for any owner, operator, servant, agent, or employee of any theater, concert hall, dance hall, club, or other place of public amusement knowingly to permit on the premises of that place of public amusement, between the hours of 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., any child under the age of 16, unless:

It also is unlawful for any owner, operator, servant, agent, or employee of any theater, concert hall, dance hall, club, or other place where public amusement is provided, including those places where coin-operated amusement devices, including electronic games, are provided for the public use, to knowingly permit the operation of these coin-operated amusement devices, including electronic games, between the hours of 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. by any child under the age of 16, unless the school at which the child is enrolled is not in session.

A license is required for regular dancing academies or places used for instruction in the art of dancing.

<em>[The licensee]</em> shall pay an annual license fee of $50 for such privilege.

The tax or license for musical parties shall be:

But the Director of Consumer Protection and Business Licensing is authorized to grant, free of expense, all applications for license for concerts or performances of any kind, where the proceeds are intended for charitable purposes.

In this Part 7, the following terms have the meanings indicated.

“Amusement device” has the meaning stated in <cite data-path="|15|§2-11">§ 2-11 of this article</cite>.

No person, firm, corporation, or other entity may operate any animated riding device unless the device is licensed under Part 3 of this subtitle.

Notwithstanding the fees set in Part 3 of this subtitle, the annual fee for an animated riding device license is $25 per device.

Before issuing any such license, the Director of Consumer Protection and Business Licensing shall have such animated riding device inspected by the Commissioner of Housing and Community Development and shall obtain from him a certificate to the effect that the animated riding device has been inspected and is mechanically safe for operation.

As a condition for retaining any such license, the applicant shall present to the Director of Consumer Protection and Business Licensing at intervals of not more than 6 months thereafter, a similar certificate of inspection and safe condition.

The Director of Consumer Protection and Business Licensing shall require each applicant for a license herein provided for to furnish proof of financial responsibility in the form of a written certificate from an insurance carrier authorized to transact business in the State of Maryland.

Said certificate shall state that the applicant is insured against liability for damage including death or injury to persons and damage to property due to faulty equipment or negligence, and indemnifying the City against any suit or suits, losses, claims, damages, or expense to which the City may be subjected by reason of any damage to property or person, including death, or injury to the public highways and other public property done in or in connection with the transportation, erection, operation, maintenance, and supervision of such animated riding devices and said certificate shall be provided in an amount which in the discretion of the Director of Consumer Protection and Business Licensing will adequately protect the public.

Where the applicant is a nonresident, said applicant and said insurance carrier shall execute a power of attorney authorizing the Director of Consumer Protection and Business Licensing to accept on their behalf service of notices, processes, and any action arising out of the ownership, operation, maintenance, or in any wise connected with said animated riding devices, while they are within the confines of the limits of the City of Baltimore.

In the event that a nonresident corporation applies for a license, the Director of Consumer Protection and Business Licensing shall issue said license provided:

Before issuing any such license, the Director of Consumer Protection and Business Licensing shall have such ride or riding device mounted on mobile equipment inspected by the Commissioner of Housing and Community Development and shall obtain from him a certificate to the effect that such ride or riding device mounted on mobile equipment has been inspected and is mechanically safe for operation.

The applicant shall as a condition of retaining any such license present to the Director of Consumer Protection and Business Licensing a similar certificate of inspection and safe condition at intervals of not more than 6 months thereafter.

The Director of Consumer Protection and Business Licensing shall require each applicant for a license herein provided for to furnish proof of financial responsibility in the form of a written certificate from an insurance carrier authorized to transact business in the State of Maryland.

Said certificate shall state that the applicant is insured against liability for damage including death or injury to persons and damage to property due to faulty equipment or negligence, and indemnifying the City against any suit or suits, losses, claims, damages, or expense to which the City may be subjected by reason of any damage to property or person, including death, or injury to the public highways and other public property done in or in connection with the transportation, erection, operation, maintenance, and supervision of such ride or riding device mounted on mobile equipment, and said certificate shall be provided in an amount which in the discretion of the Director of Consumer Protection and Business Licensing will adequately protect the public.

Where the applicant is a nonresident, said applicant and said insurance carrier shall execute a power of attorney authorizing the Director of Consumer Protection and Business Licensing to accept service on their behalf of notices, processes, and any action arising out of the ownership, operation, maintenance, or in any wise connected with said ride or riding device mounted on mobile equipment while it is within the confines of the limits of the City of Baltimore.

In the event that a nonresident corporation applies for a license, the Director of Consumer Protection and Business Licensing shall issue said license provided:

Subject to a licencee’s compliance with subsection (b) of this section, the provisions of § 432 {“Circuses and Carnivals”} of the Baltimore City <cite data-path="|building-codes|II">Building Code</cite>, which regulates circuses and carnivals, do apply to applications and licenses to operate any type of ride or riding device mounted on mobile equipment.

No licensee may operate a ride or riding device mounted on mobile equipment in any 1 block for longer than 1 hour.