Play Meter

Operating
Detroit ordinance threatens pinballs
Dark clouds are hanging over pin-
ball operators in Detroit these days.
A proposed ordir.ance in that city
would ban all amusement macines
from being within 500 feet of any
school and could, in effect, "de-
stroy the pinball business in
Detroit. "
The ordinance, in addition to
banning pinballs from being near the
schools, would reduce from eight to
two the number of machines that
would make a location an arcade.
The reduction in the number of
pieces in an arcade takes on further
signifigance when it is viewed in
connection with a third change
the city ordinance would enforce.
That change would require that an
arcade meet with the approval of 51
percent of the residents and busi-
nesses within a 5OO-foot radius.
Mike Spaniolo, secretary-counsel
of the Music Opertors of Michigan
(MOM) said of this change: It turns
the whole thing around. Right now
we can set up an arcade unless we
get 51 percent disaproval. But this
would require 51 percent approval.
It's almost physically impossuble to
get 51 percent approval for the
simple reason that it would take a lot
of manpower, but more importantly
because the people won't answer
thier doors. They may be home but
wont open up. People won't answer
their doors because they are afraid .
We explained this to the council,
and they argeed that this probably
is true. We told them that that, in
effict, would destriy the pinball
believe us."
MOM has already held meetings
with the city council's research and
analysis department, the city clerk,
and several Detroit state representa-
tives and senators.
The state
association has also organized op-
position to the ordinance by encour-
aging city and state operatorsto join
in a letter writing campaign .
State operators have gotten into
the battle because they fear the
measure could spread statewide .
State representative Dennis Hertel
of Detroit has already introduced
HB4986 which would ban pinball
machines within 500 feet of any
school in the state. That bill is still
pending and will probably be
14
considered when the state legisla-
ture reconvenes in the fall.
Spaniolo told Play Meter, how-
ever, that he didn't think the state
measure would be well received
"I think the general feeling among
the legislators statewide,., he said,
"is that they look upon this as a
Detroit problem ."
The Detroit Chamber of Com-
merce has also gotten into the fray
on the side of the operators.
"They've been very helpful to our
cause," said Spaniolo . They realize
that an ordinance of this type would
cost quite a few jobs.
The
economic impact," Spaniolo added,
"is one of our biggest thrusts . One
operator has already shut down
because of all the trouble, and
others have indicated that they are
going to have to cut down on the
hours for their employees ."
Presently there is nothing on the
agenda for the city council concern-
ing the proposed ordinance, nor has
anything been formally proposed on
the matter. But the request for the
ordinance was made by the entire
city council (nine members) after a
petition by a local school board .
The school board petition was
made as a result of trouble at a
sandwich shop in the vicinity of
Denby High School where there
happened to be several pinball
machines.
Persons waiting for
buses were harrassed . In addition,
drinking by minors, drug exchang-
es, loitering, and truancy were also
noted.
When asked why pinballs were
being singled out, Spaniolo admit-
ted that the sandwich shops were
also suffering from another proposal
before the city council.
The rationale for blaming pinball
machines, Spaniolo said "is the
same that is heard everywhere:
Pinball is attracting the kids, encour-
aging them to loiter.
. ' "The best solution to youth
loitering, truancy, etc . that takes
place just outside amusement loca-
tions," Spaniolo said, " is that there
are already laws on the books which
deal with the problem . What is
needed is fuller enforcement by the
police department. Closing arcades
and sandwich shops will only cause
the kids to move elsewhere."
Per machine tax
in North Carolina?
North Carolina operators may
soon find themselves in dire straits .
A bill in that state's senate could , if
enacted, make operators in that
state among the hardest hit by state
and local license fees.
The bill (S.B . 645) proposes to tax
each amusement machine and
require a license be attached. to it .
Presently, North Carolina operators
pay a flat fee of $25 for each pinball
location , $20 for each pool table,
and $10 for each jukebox .
The bill proposes a $50 state tax
on each machine and authorizes the
cities and counties to levy a
comparable tax as well. In other
words, operators could find them-
selves paying up to $150 in taxes on
each machine.
The North Carolina Coin Opera-
tors Association , Inc . of Fayette-
ville, North Carolina is busily alerting
its members of the impact th is bill
would have on them .
NCCOA
President J . B. Reaves has stated
flatly that "such a tax would be
disastrous to our industry."
Marathon record
Bruce Condella of Ventor, New
Jersey successfully terminated his
marathon attempt at setting a new
world ' s record of continuous play
on a pinball machine . The marathon
event, which took place on Bally's
new Evel Knievel machine, took
place in Atlantic City, New Jersey at
the New Steel Pier.
Bruce began his marathon event
at 11 :18 a.m ., June 25 and ended it
at 9 a.m. June 29.
His effort
eclipsed the old record of 83 hours,
33 minutes which was set by Steve
Zable of Ocean City, Maryland .
After his feat, Bruce Condella
received a phone call of congratulat-
ions from Evel Knievel in Butte,
Montana .
On hand for the event was the
director of the Guiness Exhibit
Show in America , Joe Mc Grath .
Plans are under way to exhibit the
Bally Evel Knievel machine at
Guiness's exhibit hall at the Empire
State Building in New York City.
Ballv's oro motional sales mana-
ger, Tom Nieman was also present
for the record-shattering feat . After
it was over, Nieman admitted, "I
was nervous that a malfunction
would jeopardize Bruce's effort, but
we had no such problem ."
August, 1977, PLA Y METER