I'm talking about object balls here, not the cue ball on the break, which can go sailing. I don't think it would be wise for Geno to even bring that up. Sometimes a cleverly worded argument can go a long way toward getting some leniency, or in this case a variance. Listen Mac, if someone is going to mess with my business who hasn't a clue what they're talking about, I have every right to BS them right back and show them that they are clueless.
In other words if they are going to straddle me with unworkable stipulations, I can baffle them with bullshit. I've done it more than once.
By the way, requiring seating be 16' away from the pool tables is utter nonsense and has nothing whatsoever to do with safety. It's an attempt to stop a man from doing business. If it were me, I would let them know in a light hearted manner, that they haven't a clue what happens in a poolroom, or with pool balls in general. You MUST present yourself as an expert, someone with years of experience in this business. Don't be afraid to brag about your accomplishments as a player. If you can get them talking about pool and pool players, you've won! Someone is almost sure to ask you if you know The Black Widow. And one more thing Geno, NEVER call it a poolroom. Always call it a Sports Bar!
Also forget all the calculations being given to you in the above posts. By using them you only lend credence to their argument. You must approach this from a completely different tact.
Some of those laws are thinly disguised ways of saying "We don't want any pool rooms here". Parking requirements can often be what they use. I looked at a building and it was in a shopping center. I thought I had a ton of parking till I went before a board. Turns out, even though the place is always half empty I could only get credit for the spaces that were apportioned to my sq footage and business status even though the parking lot may be pretty empty almost all the time. IN OTHER WORDS, the furniture store that was 6000 sq feet only needed 1 space per 1000 sq feet, not even enough for their employees. While a pool room needed 1 per every 1000 sq feet plus 2 spaces for every pool table and 1 space for every 2 seats. So, a 12 table room 3000 sq feet needed 3+ 24+18 (For seating requirement of 36 seats) for a total of 45 spaces for a simple pool room.
Needless to say, there would almost be no building that could get a license for a pool room in that town. The more tables the more spaces, the more footage the more spaces. It was a catch-22 you could never catch up they created it to keep pool rooms out of their city. The catch was, this was written specifically for billiard rooms, restaurants had no such requirements. You know what I finally decided, why be where they don't want you. If it is not one thing it would be another they don't want you there why argue. This was a small north Florida town. Heck, the next county over is still dry. There are backwards laws still on the books regarding pool in every state.
Look at this:
Florida Laws: FL Statutes - Title XLVI Crimes Section 849.01 Keeping gambling houses, etc.
Legal Research Home > Florida Laws > Crimes > Florida Laws: FL Statutes - Title XLVI Crimes Section 849.01 Keeping gambling houses, etc.
849.07 Permitting gambling on billiard or pool table by holder of license.
If any holder of a license to operate a billiard or pool table shall permit any person to play billiards or pool or any other game for money, or any other thing of value, upon such tables, she or he shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
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In other words if you have a pool room you can be arrested if someone gambles there and you know about it. A pool table is still considered a gambling devise in Florida like a slot machine, I would have to look it up but it is still on the books going back like 80 years.
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This one makes all pool tournaments and leagues all illegal in Florida if the person puts up any entry fee. and prizes of any kind are returned. The only way a tournament is legal is if the prize money is just given away they players can not pay any entry fees or it becomes a lottery.
You know like what you see Burger King do "No purchase necessary" to win the car.
Florida:
849.14 Unlawful to bet on result of trial or contest of skill, etc.
Whoever stakes, bets or wagers any money or other thing of value upon the result of any trial or contest of skill, speed or power or endurance of human or beast, or whoever receives in any manner whatsoever any money or other thing of value staked, bet or wagered, or offered for the purpose of being staked, bet or wagered, by or for any other person upon any such result, or whoever knowingly becomes the custodian or depositary of any money or other thing of value so staked, bet, or wagered upon any such result, or whoever aids, or assists, or abets in any manner in any of such acts all of which are hereby forbidden, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
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This stuff is on the books in every state and many are geared directly at pool. They can keep you from doing business it they want.
I forgot to mention, bowling alleys have an exclusion from this their leagues are legal they are mentioned specifically. This probably goes back to when Brunswick and AMF were opening bowling alleys and probably had a lobby helping them with state laws. They were big business.
