§ 501. Dance hall defined
A room, hall, eating place, building, structure, or place shall be deemed to be a
dance hall for the purposes of this chapter at all times and occasions when dancing,
for which admission is charged and which is open to the general public, is conducted
or permitted. (Amended 2023, No. 85 (Adj. Sess.), § 462, eff. July 1, 2024.)
§ 502. Supervision
A person, partnership, association, or corporation shall not operate a dance hall
unless, at the hours when dancing is conducted or permitted, there is in attendance
one or more police or other officers empowered to make arrests. With the approval
of the selectboard, city council, or trustees of the town, city, or incorporated village
where the dance hall is operated, licensed security guards may be employed in place
of officers. The officers or security guards shall be paid for their services by the
operator of the dance hall. The number of officers or security guards and the individuals
so acting shall be approved by the selectboard, mayor, or trustees of the town, city,
or incorporated village. (Amended 1991, No. 69, § 2, eff. June 21, 1991; 2023, No. 85 (Adj. Sess.), § 462, eff. July 1, 2024.)
§ 503. License required
A person, partnership, association, or corporation shall not operate a dance hall,
bowling alley, or pool hall unless a license to do so has been obtained from the selectboard,
city council, or trustees of the town, city, or incorporated village in which it is
proposed to operate the dance hall, bowling alley, or pool hall. Any dance hall, bowling
alley, or pool hall license may, after hearing and for cause, be revoked by the municipal
officers granting the same when in their judgment the public good requires. (Amended 2023, No. 85 (Adj. Sess.), § 462, eff. July 1, 2024.)
§ 504. Fees and regulations
The selectboard, city council, or trustees of a town, city, or incorporated village
shall grant a license as provided in section 503 of this title upon application therefor and upon compliance by the applicant with such reasonable
requirements as they may prescribe for the protection and safety of the public and
the preservation of the public morals and upon payment of such fee as they may require,
not to exceed $25.00 in case of an annual fee or $5.00 in case of a single dance.
§ 505. Regulations on operation
The selectboard, city council, or trustees of a town, city, or incorporated village
are hereby empowered to make regulations concerning the operation of dance halls,
bowling alleys, and pool halls, including lighting, both inside and outside, on the
premises where such dance halls, bowling alleys, or pool halls are operated. Such
rules and regulations shall not be effective until they are recorded in the office
of the clerk of the municipality for which the same are made, and no license shall
be issued until such rules and regulations are complied with.
§ 506. Charitable exemptions
The provisions of sections 503-505 of this title shall not apply to dance halls, bowling alleys, or pool halls operated by charitable,
educational, and fraternal organizations or institutions on premises owned or regularly
occupied by charitable, educational, and fraternal organizations or institutions except
that in any event no license fee shall be required from any of the organizations or
institutions mentioned in this section.
§ 507. Construction
The provisions of sections 503-506 of this title shall not apply to cities or incorporated villages whose charters, ordinances, or
bylaws make different provisions as to the licenses or any of them provided for in
this chapter.
§ 508. Penalties
A person, partnership, association, or corporation who violates a provision of sections
501-507 of this title or who violates any lawful rule or regulation made as provided in section 505 of this title shall be fined not more than $100.00 nor less than $25.00 for each such violation.
Each such violation occurring at any single dance shall be deemed to be a separate
offense.
§ 509. Setting up alley near schoolhouse or church
A person as owner or keeper, who sets up or uses a bowling alley upon land adjoining
the land on which a school building, college, academy, or church is located, shall
be fined $20.00 for each day or time he or she permits such alley to be used.
§ 510. Repealed. 1959, No. 262, § 37, eff. June 11, 1959.
§ 511. Coasting on sleds
The selectboard shall forbid coasting upon the highways when it endangers the lives
or property of travelers and shall post notices to that effect in two or more conspicuous
places in the vicinity. However, such prohibition shall not apply to highways in
villages or cities having regulations respecting coasting.
§ 512. Penalties
A person who thereafter coasts on a highway specified in such notice shall be fined
$2.00.