§ 48-17-2 - License fees; issuance of license; display of license; control number; duplicate certificates; application for license or renewal - Georgia Statutes

O.C.G.A. 48-17-2 (2010)
48-17-2. License fees; issuance of license; display of license; control number; duplicate certificates; application for license or renewal

(a) Every owner, except an owner holding a bona fide coin operated amusement machine solely for personal use or resale, who offers others the opportunity to play for a charge, whether directly or indirectly, any bona fide coin operated amusement machine shall pay annual master license fees as follows:

(1) For Class A machines:

(A) For five or fewer machines, the owner shall pay a master license fee of $500.00. In the event such owner acquires a sixth or greater number of machines during a calendar year which require a certificate for lawful operation under this chapter so that the total number of machines owned does not exceed 60 machines or more, such owner shall pay an additional master license fee of $1,500.00;

(B) For six or more machines but not more than 60 machines, the owner shall pay a master license fee of $2,000.00. In the event such owner acquires a sixty-first or greater number of machines during a calendar year which require a certificate for lawful operation under this chapter, such owner shall pay an additional master license fee of $1,500.00; or

(C) For 61 or more machines, the owner shall pay a master license fee of $3,500.00; and

(2) For any number of Class B machines, the owner shall pay a master license fee of $5,000.00.

The cost of the license shall be paid to the commissioner by company check, cash, cashier's check, or money order. Upon said payment, the commissioner shall issue a master license certificate to the owner. The master license fee levied by this Code section shall be collected by the commissioner on an annual basis for the period from July 1 to June 30. The commissioner may establish procedures for master license collection and set due dates for these license payments. No refund or credit of the master license charge levied by this Code section may be allowed to any owner who ceases the operation of bona fide coin operated amusement machines prior to the end of any license or permit period.

(a.1) Every business owner or business operator shall pay an annual location license fee for each bona fide coin operated amusement machine offered to the public for play. The annual location license fee shall be $25.00 for each Class A machine and $125.00 for each Class B machine. The annual location license fee levied by this Code section shall be collected by the commissioner on an annual basis from July 1 to June 30. The location license fee shall be paid to the commissioner by company check, cash, cashier's check, or money order. Upon payment, the commissioner shall issue a location license certificate that shall state the number of bona fide coin operated amusement machines permitted for each class without further description or identification of specific machines. The commissioner may establish procedures for location license fee collection and set due dates for payment of such fees. No refund or credit of the location license fee shall be allowed to any business owner or business operator who ceases to offer bona fide coin operated amusement machines to the public for commercial use prior the end of any license period.

(b) A copy of an owner's master license and the business owner's or business operator's location license shall be prominently displayed at all locations where the owner and business owner or business operator have bona fide coin operated amusement machines available for commercial use and for play by the public to evidence the payment of the fees levied under this Code section.

(c) Each master license and each location license shall list the name and address of the owner or business owner or business operator, as applicable.

(d) The commissioner may provide a duplicate original master license certificate or location license certificate if the original certificate has been lost, stolen, or destroyed. The fee for a duplicate original certificate is $100.00. If the original certificate is lost, stolen, or destroyed, a sworn, written statement must be submitted explaining the circumstances by which the certificate was lost, stolen, or destroyed and including the number of the lost, stolen, or destroyed certificate, if applicable, before a duplicate original certificate can be issued. A certificate for which a duplicate certificate has been issued is void.

(e) A license or permit issued under this Code section:

(1) Is effective for a single business entity;

(2) Vests no property or right in the holder of the license or permit except to conduct the licensed or permitted business during the period the license or permit is in effect;

(3) Is nontransferable, nonassignable by and between owners or business owners and business operators, and not subject to execution; and

(4) Expires upon the death of an individual holder of a license or permit or upon the dissolution of any other holder of a license or permit.

(f) An application for the renewal of a license or permit must be made to the commissioner by June 1 of each year.

(g) Acceptance of a license or permit issued under this Code section constitutes consent by the licensee and the business owner or business operator of the business where bona fide coin operated amusement machines are available for commercial use and for play by the public that the commissioner or the commissioner's agents may freely enter the business premises where the licensed and permitted machines are located during normal business hours for the purpose of ensuring compliance with this chapter.

(h) An application for a license or permit to do business under this chapter shall contain a complete statement regarding the ownership of the business to be licensed or the business where the permitted machines are to be located. This statement of ownership shall specify the same information that is required by the application to secure a sales tax number for the State of Georgia.

(i) An application for a master license shall be accompanied by either the annual or semiannual fee plus the required permit fee due for each machine. Additional per machine permits can be purchased during the year if needed by the owner. An application for a location license shall be accompanied by the appropriate fee.

(j) An application is subject to public inspection.

(k) A renewal application filed on or after July 1, but before the license expires, shall be accompanied by a late fee of $125.00. A master license or location license that has been expired for more than 90 days may not be renewed. In such a case, the owner shall obtain a new master license or the business owner or business operator shall obtain a new location license, as applicable, by complying with the requirements and procedures for obtaining an original master license or location license.

(l) A holder of a license who properly completes the application and remits all fees with it by the due date may continue to operate bona fide coin operated amusement machines after the expiration date if its license or permit renewal has not been issued, unless the holder of the license is notified by the commissioner prior to the expiration date of a problem with the renewal.

(m) Holders of location licenses and temporary location permits shall be subject to the same provisions of this chapter with regard to refunds, license renewals, license suspensions, and license revocations as are holders of master licenses.