§ 9-98. Fortunetelling, etc.

(a)

License fee. The annual license fee for fortunetelling, palmistry, crystal ball reading, tea leaf reading, forecasting of horoscopes, or any other form of fortunetelling shall be $200.00, or such other fee as may be established by the annual license fee review through official action of the City Council. Such license fee shall not be prorated.

(b)

Zoning restriction. Such business of fortunetelling shall be located only in the business zones of the City.

(c)

License application issuance. No license to engage in the business of fortunetelling shall be issued until an application therefor has been completed and filed with the City Clerk, and no person shall engage in the business of fortunetelling within the limits of the City until such license has been issued.

(d)

Contents of application; information to be furnished under oath. An application containing the following information shall be completed and filed with the City Clerk by each applicant for a license to conduct any business involving the telling of fortunes or predicting of the future, on forms provided therefor, together with payment of the applicable license fee: "Before the undersigned attesting officer duly authorized by law to administer oaths, personally comes the applicant for a license to conduct the hereinafter described business and being first duly sworn, on oath, says that the information hereinafter given and the statements hereinafter made in answer to the following questions are true:

(1)

What is the kind of business to be operated?

(2)

What is the name of the business?

(3)

What is the location where such business is proposed to be carried on and the telephone number of said location?

(4)

What is the name of the applicant for the license, and the home address and telephone number of said applicant?

(5)

Where has the applicant resided for the 90 days preceding the date of this application?

(6)

What was the applicant's previous home address, and how long was applicant a resident there?

(7)

What are the names and addresses of all persons having an interest in said business?

(8)

What interests do such persons have?

(9)

Who is the landlord or owner of said location, and what is the address and telephone number of said landlord or owner?

(10)

Has the applicant or any person connected with or having an interest in said business:

a.

Been charged or convicted of any violation of law (other than minor traffic violations) in any locality?

b.

Served time in prison, or any other correctional institution?

(11)

If the answer to subsection (d)(10)a of this section is "yes," state the circumstances in detail. The information must be complete as to dates, charges, court jurisdiction, and disposition for each person. If the answer to subsection (d)(10)b of this section is "yes," state the circumstances in detail. The information must be complete as to the charge on which convicted, the name of the prison or correctional institution, the length of time served, the date of release from prison or correctional institution, whether the sentence has been completed, or whether on probation or parole, and the terms thereof.

(12)

Give the name, home address and telephone number and place of employment of three persons who are residents of Liberty County, who are familiar with your character and reputation. A character reference letter from each of the three is required with application.

(13)

By signing and submitting this application, do you agree to provide with the application a small recently made photograph of yourself, and to go in person to the City Police Department for fingerprinting, with the understanding that a complete records check will be made?

All of the foregoing information is hereby given and all of the foregoing statements are hereby made on oath, willfully, knowingly, and absolutely, and the same is and are hereby sworn to be true under penalty for false swearing, as provided by law.

___________
Applicant's Signature

Sworn to and subscribed before me this _______ day of _______ 20_______.

___________
Notary Public"

(e)

Approval by City Council. No license to engage in the business of fortunetelling shall be issued if objections have been filed, if the answers to subsection (d)(11) of this section are positive, or if a police investigation shows a criminal record, until the application therefor has been approved by the City Council.

(Code 1978, § 9-84)

State law reference

Local regulation of billiard rooms, O.C.G.A. § 43-8-1 et seq.