Article 1 – Amusements

Division 1 – Dance Halls

[Adopted 3-10-1978 as Ch. 3, Art. III, of the 1978 Code (Ch. 41, Art. II, of the 1993 Code)]

§ 11.1-1 Definitions.

A used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:

PUBLIC DANCE HALL

Any place open to the general public where dancing is permitted.

§ 11.1-2 Permit required; conditions of issuance.

No person shall operate a public dance hall in the County unless such person has obtained a written permit from the Board of Supervisors. No permit shall be issued unless the person desiring to obtain a public dance hall permit provides satisfactory evidence that he has complied with all applicable provisions of the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code and Statewide Fire Prevention Code.

§ 11.1-3 Revocation of permit.

Any permit issued pursuant to the provisions of this article shall be revoked for any violation of the provisions of this article. No permit shall be revoked prior to reasonable notice being given to the permittee and without a hearing for cause before the Board of Supervisors. Revocation of such permit shall not bar prosecution for a violation of the provisions of this article.

§ 11.1-4 Hours of operation.

[Amended 5-23-1980]

It shall be unlawful for any person to operate or conduct a public dance hall in the County between the hours of 2:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. of any day and from 12:00 midnight on each Saturday night until 6:00 a.m. the following Monday.

§ 11.1-5 Admission of minors.

It shall be unlawful for any person conducting a public dance hall to allow any person under the age of 16 years to enter or to remain in such dance hall while dancing is being conducted therein unless accompanied by a parent or legal guardian or by a brother or sister over the age of 21 years or except upon the written consent of such parent or legal guardian.

§ 11.1-6 Violations and penalties.

[Amended 7-12-1993]

Any person guilty of a violation of the provisions of this article shall be guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor.

Division 2 – Billiard Rooms and Pool Halls

[Adopted 5-13-1983 (Ch. 41, Art. III, of the 1993 Code)]

§ 11.1-7 Hours of operation.

[Amended 7-12-1993]

It shall be unlawful for any owner, person, keeper or agent to allow any billiard room, pool hall or poolroom, whether the pool tables are coin-operated or not and whether the pool tables are regulation size or not, to operate in the County of Appomattox between the hours of 11:00 p.m. Saturday and 7:00 a.m. the following Monday morning of each week and from 12:00 midnight until 7:00 a.m. each weekday. A violation of this section shall constitute a Class 3 misdemeanor.

§ 11.1-8 Admission of minors.

It shall be unlawful for any owner or employee or agent of the owner to allow any person under the age of 16 years to enter a billiard room or poolroom or pool hall. Any person violating this section shall be guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor as defined in § 18.2-11(c), Code of Virginia.

Division 3 – Game Rooms

[Adopted 7-8-1983 (Ch. 41, Art. IV, of the 1993 Code)]

§ 11.1-9 Definitions.

As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:

PUBLIC GAME ROOM

Any place open to the general public where there are located either coin-operated or otherwise electrically operated machines, amusements or video games and nonelectrically operated games or amusements.

§ 11.1-10 Location.

All public game rooms must be attached to and be a part of a separate operating business that is the main enterprise, and such game rooms shall be physically attached to and open upon said established and operating business.

§ 11.1-11 Hours of operation.

The public game room shall have the same operating hours as the business to which it is attached, but in no case shall the public game room operate past 12:00 midnight on Saturday night of any week and after 1:00 a.m. during the other nights of the week, and such public game room may begin its operations each day at the same time that the business to which it is attached shall begin its operations.

§ 11.1-12 Alcohol beverage sales; pool or billiards.

A. In any business establishment having a public game room attached to it and permitting persons under 21 years of age to enter the establishment, there shall be no on-premises alcohol beverage sales. Off-premises alcohol beverage sales shall be permitted. The words “on-premises” and “off-premises” shall have as their meanings the same meanings as given these terms in the Alcohol Beverage Control Statute in the State of Virginia.

B. No public game room shall contain any pool table, billiard table or coin-operated pool or billiard machine.

§ 11.1-13 Violations and penalties.

[Amended 7-12-1993]

A. Except as provided in Subsection B, a violation of this article shall constitute a Class 1 misdemeanor.

B. Any owner or employee or agent of the owner who allows a minor on the premises shall be guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor under § 18.2-11, Code of Virginia.