(a) Baggage or Parcel Checking Machine. The annual license fee to keep or maintain an automatic baggage or parcel checking machine or device which is used for the storage of baggage or parcels of any character shall be fifty cents (50¢) for each section of any such device which is operated on the coin-in-the-slot principle.
(b) Toilet Locker. The annual license fee to keep or maintain any automatic toilet locker or device shall be fifty cents (50¢) for every such locker or device.
(c) Other Slot Machines. The annual license fee to keep or maintain any other automatic slot machine or device, which is not a gambling device as aforesaid, shall be at the rate of five dollars ($5.00) for each such machine or device kept or maintained by the licensee.
(d) Coin-operated Laundry. Notwithstanding all other provisions of this chapter, the owner or operator of a coin-operated laundry shall not be required to obtain any license except a general store license, as provided in Article 759.
(e) Defined. "Slot machine" when used in this article shall not be deemed to mean or include any pay telephone or postage stamp vending machine operated on the coin-in-the-slot principle.
(f) Application for License. Application for the licenses required in this section shall contain the number of such machines or devices to be kept or maintained by the licensee within this City during the ensuing license year. One license certificate shall be issued to each person keeping or maintaining such machines or devices as aforesaid, but the City Clerk shall issue to any such licensee a decalcomania stamp or other evidence of license for each such machine or device, which decalcomania stamp or other evidence of license shall be securely attached to the side or front of each such machine or device properly protected and plainly visible. Every such machine or device shall also bear on the side or front thereof so as to be plainly visible the name and address of the person keeping or maintaining such machine or device.
(g) Exemptions.
(1) Except where the principal business of the operation of the store is the operation of slot machines or devices, no license fee shall be required of persons keeping or maintaining such machines or devices owned by them in their own licensed stores.
(2) Any person exempt from such license shall obtain from the City Clerk a license receipt, decalcomania stamp, or other evidence of exemption at a cost not to exceed fifty cents (50¢) each, showing that he is so exempt, which shall be effective for the license year for which issued; but to obtain such license receipt or other evidence of exemption, he shall make an affidavit and produce such other evidence as to the fact entitling him to such exemption as the City Clerk, in his discretion, may require, which shall be on a form to be prescribed by the City Clerk.
(h) Proprietor's Responsibility and Liability; Impounding and Sale.
(1) The proprietor or owner of the business conducted in the place where any slot machine is kept or maintained is charged with the responsibility of satisfying himself that such decalcomania stamp or other evidence of license, is so attached before permitting its installation in his place of business, and in the event the owner of any slot machine or device refuses, neglects or fails to pay the license fee due upon any such machine or device, then the proprietor or owner of the business conducted in the place where such machine is installed, operated or maintained shall be liable for the payment of such license fee.
(2) Upon the refusal or failure of the proprietor or owner to pay such fee, the City Clerk or his agents may take such machine or device into possession and deliver the same to the Chief of Police. The Chief of Police on his own initiative, or upon order or direction of the City Clerk or his agents, may take such machine or device into possession, and in either event such machine or device shall be impounded until such license fee is paid.
(3) In the event the license fee and penalties are not paid to the City Clerk within ten days after the date of such impounding, then the City Clerk shall sell such machine or device in the manner provided by law for the sale of personal property for taxes, and from the proceeds thereof shall discharge and pay the license fee due on such machine or device and his costs, including cost of impounding, storage, penalties and other fees due the City and the balance, if any there be, shall be forfeited to the City.
(1975 Code Sec. 10-27 to 10-29)