HomeMy WebLinkAboutORDINANCE NO 11 12 124STATE OF GEORGIA
COUNTY OF FULTON
ORDINANCE NO. 11-12-124
AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND CHAPTER 42, SECONDHAND GOODS, ARTICLE II,
PAWNSHOPS AND BROKERS, AS ATTACHED HERETO AND INCORPORATED
HEREIN
The Council of the City of Milton hereby ordains while in a Regular called
session on the 19th day of December, 2011 at 6:00 pm. as follows:
SECTION 1. That the Secondhand Goods Ordinance is hereby amended as
follows: Sections 42-19 through 42-26 are deleted in their entirety and replaced
with the new Ordinance attached hereto as Exhibit "A" and incorporated herein by
reference as if set forth in full; and,
SECTION 2. That this Ordinance shall be designated as Chapter 42, Article II of
the Code of Ordinances of the City of Milton, Georgia; and,
SECTION 3. That all Ordinances, parts of Ordinances, or regulations in conflict
herewith are hereby repealed.
SECTION 4. That this Ordinance shall become effective upon its adoption.
ORDAINED this the 19th day of December, 2011.
Attest:
Sudie AM Gordon, C' y Clerk
Page 1 of 17
Approved:
Mayor Joe Lockwood
ARTICLE , -PAWNBROKERS AND PAWNSHOPS
Sec.
1.
-Purpose.
Sec.
2.
- Definitions.
Sec.
3.
- Employee permit required.
Sec.
4.
- Pawnshop employees.
10,E
Sec.
5.
- Operation of an unregulated premises unlawful.
Sec.
6.
- Renewal of permits.
Sec.
7.
— Permit or License nontransferable.
- Redemption; lost or damagedog ods.
Sec.
8.
- Unlawful operation declared nuisance.
— Business Hours; Sunday sales prohibited.
Sec.
9.
- Receipt of goods from minors unlawful.
Sec. 27 —
Sec.
10.
- Receipt of new in box items unlawful.
28.
- Business existing on date of adoption of this article.
Sec.
11.
- Application for License; review by city council.
29.
- Reserved.
Sec.
12.
- Denial of an application.
Sec.
13.
- Considerations in hearing of application.
Sec.
14.
- Change of location, name, or other information.
Sec.
15.
- Revocation and appeal of License.
Sec.
16.
- License number.
Sec.
17. - Records and information to be maintained; display of Pawnshop transaction
number; identification; digital photographs; fingerprints; records storage.
Sec.
18.
- Daily report to police; required format.
Sec.
19.
- Reserved.
Sec.
20.
- Conflict of interest of city employ
Sec.
21.
- Additional merchandise.
Sec.
22.
- Disposition of articles orog ods.
Sec.
23.
- Restrictions regarding sale or pledge of building glass or plumbing material.
Sec.
24.
- Redemption; lost or damagedog ods.
Sec.
25.
— Business Hours; Sunday sales prohibited.
Sec. 26 -
Duties of Pawnbroker
Sec. 27 —
Penalties for Violation
Sec.
28.
- Business existing on date of adoption of this article.
Sec.
29.
- Reserved.
Page 2 of 17
Sec. 1. -Purpose.
The purpose of this article is to regulate the conduct and activities of Pawnshops, as
defined herein, in order to reduce and curtail the criminal activities frequently engendered by
such businesses, to aid the police department in detection and prevention, and to ensure fair
dealing between the Pawnbroker(s) and his or her customers. This article is enacted pursuant to
O. C. G. A. § 44-12-130 et seq. and is intended to augment and strengthen the terms and
provisions of same.
Sec. 2. - Definitions.
The following terms used in this article shall have the meanings indicated below:
Accepted identification: An official document, most commonly in the form of a plastic
coated/sealed card, issued for purposes of identification or driver's license. These documents
must be issued by one of the 50 states or a branch of the U. S. Military, i. e. Army, Navy, Air
Force, Marines, Coast Guard, or current State of Georgia and counties of Georgia probation and
parole cards. The identification must at a minimum bear a true photograph of the person
presenting it, date of birth, description of the person, and an address for the person.
City: The City of Milton, Georgia.
Deceptive business practice:
(1) Any use or possession of a false weight or measurement, or any other
device for falsely determining or recording any quality or quantity in connection with any
scale or service;
(2) Any sale of, offer to sell or delivery of less than the represented quality
or quantity;
(3) Any attempt to take more than the represented quantity of any
commodity, when as buyer or broker, he furnishes the weight or measure;
(4) Any service which is of an unreasonably lesser quality than the service
offered or represented;
(5) Any other practice designated as unlawful by O. C. G. A. section 10-1-
390 et seq. ;
(6) Any other fraudulent business transaction which is made punishable by
the laws of the State of Georgia.
Good moral character: A person who has not been convicted of any felony or any crime
involving theft, fraud or a crime against property in the past ten years.
Page 3 of 17
Interest in a Pawnshop: Exists if the person involved or any member of his or her
immediate family is the outright owner of the Pawnshop; a co-owner of the Pawnshop; a partner
in a partnership which owns all or part of the Pawnshop; a stockholder in any corporation
organized for pecuniary gain which owns all or any part of the Pawnshop.
License: Permission to operate a Pawnshop pursuant to grant by the city council. May
also be referred to as a Pawnshop License,
Minor: Any person who has not attained the age of 18 years.
New in box: Any unused item in the original unopened, factory sealed boxes.
Pawn or pledge: A bailment, or personal property or title (including but not limited to
a motor vehicle title) as security for any debt or engagement, redeemable upon certain terms
and with the express or implied power of sale on default.
Pawnbroker: Any person engaged in whole or in part in the business of lending
money on the security of pledged goods, personal property or titles, or in the business of
purchasing tangible personal property or title on the condition that it may be redeemed or
repurchased by the seller for a fixed price within a fixed period of time, or in the business of
purchasing tangible personal property or title from persons or sources other than the
manufacturers or regulated dealers as a part of or in conjunction with the business activities
described herein.
Pawnshop: Any business wherein a well-defined part thereof is to take or receive, by
way of pledge, pawn or exchange, any goods, wares, merchandise, motor vehicles, or any
kind of personal property or title whatsoever, as security for the repayment of money lent
thereon.
Permit: Permission to be employed or work in a Pawnshop regulated by the police
department.
Person: The term shall extend and be applied to associations, firms, partnerships and
bodies politic and corporate, or any combination thereof, as well as to individuals.
Police department: The City of Milton chief of police or his or her designee.
Sec. 3. - Employee Permit required.
All persons employed or working in a Pawnshop as defined herein shall file an
application with the City for an employee Permit to be employed or work in a Pawnshop.
Such a Permit shall be obtained from the Police department. The Permit fee for each and
every employee shall be $50. 00. The Permit must be renewed annually.
Page 4 of 17
Sec. 4. -Pawnshop employees.
(a) Qualifications. Employees of a Pawnshop, as defined herein, shall not be less
than 18 years of age. Every employee must be of good moral character as defined by this
article. Any employee who has been convicted of any felony or crime involving theft, fraud
or against property shall not be permitted to work on the premises of a Pawnshop for a period
of ten years from the date of such conviction, unless a longer prohibition on such work is
ordered by a court of competent jurisdiction. The term "on the premises" shall include all
work done or services performed in the scope of employment elsewhere than on the regulated
premises.
(b) Disclosure. Every employee must disclose any ownership or Interest in any other
Pawnshop, whether it is sited locally or out-of-state and must disclose the nature of such
ownership or Interest. An Interest in a Pawnshop shall have the meaning set forth in the
Definition section of this Article.
(c) Approval for employment. Before any person may work on the regulated
premises, he shall file a notice with the Police department of his intended employment on
forms setting out the information required in subsections (a) and (b) of this section; and each
applicant must be fingerprinted by the Police department. The City shall have 10 days to
investigate the information submitted by the employee. If the employee is found to be of
Good moral character, the Police department shall grant an approval of employment and issue
an annual personal identification card authorizing the person to be employed by a Pawnshop.
Upon approval the employee may begin working on the regulated premises. It shall be the
duty of the Pawnbroker to insure that the provisions of this section receive compliance. The
employee is required to notify the Police department of any change in information or
circumstances which has occurred since the original approval was granted. If approval is
denied, the applicant may, within ten days, apply in writing to the Police department for
reconsideration setting forth in detail the reasons why reconsideration is warranted. The
decision of the Police department upon reconsideration may be appealed to the City Council
which shall issue such order as is required after notice and hearing. An investigation fee of
$50.00 shall accompany the notice of intended employment, or a receipt of the permitting
officer evidencing the payment of such fee at the time the notice is filed.
(d) Suspension, revocation of the License. Conviction for violating the provisions of
this article or any other ordinance of the City, rules or regulations of the City or conviction for
any felony or any crime involving theft, controlled substances, fraud or a crime against
property shall subject the employee to immediate suspension or revocation of the employee
Permit, and in the case of the Pawnshop establishment or the Pawnbroker shall subject the
license holder to suspension of any License authorized by this article.
(e) Independent contractors. For the purpose of this article, the description or
identification of an employee or worker in a Pawnbroker establishment as an independent
contractor shall not exempt that worker or employee from obtaining all an Employee permit.
Page 5 of 17
Sec. 5. - Operation of an unregulated premises unlawful.
It is unlawful for any person to engage in, conduct or carry on within the City any
Pawnshop, as defined herein, without a Pawnshop License. A proper application for renewal
within the time required must be submitted and such License shall not be under suspension or
permanently or conditionally revoked.
Sec. 6. - Renewal of Licenses.
Licenses may be renewed on a calendar year basis provided that the applicants
continue to meet the requirements set forth in this article. The applicant must file a verified
annual report showing the applicant's gross receipts and the amounts paid to the employees
for the preceding calendar year and such shall be submitted with the renewal applications.
The renewal fee for Licenses shall be $25.00. Renewal applications shall be submitted by
January 1 of the year for which such License is requested.
Sec. 7. — Permit or License nontransferable.
No License or employee Permit may be sold, transferred or assigned to any other
person, persons or entities. Any such sale, transfer or assignment, or attempted sale, transfer
or assignment, shall be deemed to constitute a voluntary surrender of such License or Permit
and such Permit or License shall thereafter be null and void; provided and excepting,
however, that if the License holder is a partnership and one or more of the partners should die,
one or more of the surviving partners may acquire, by purchase or otherwise, the interest of
the deceased partner or partners without affecting a surrender or termination of such License,
and in such case, the License, upon notification to the City, shall be placed in the name of the
surviving partner.
Sec. 8. - Unlawful operation declared nuisance.
Any Pawnshop operated, conducted or maintained contrary to the provisions of this
article shall be declared to be unlawful and a public nuisance. The City may, in addition to,
or in lieu of prosecuting a criminal violation hereunder, commence an action or actions,
proceeding or proceedings for abatement, removal or enjoinment thereof, in the manner
provided by law. It shall take such other steps and shall apply to such court or courts as may
have jurisdiction to grant such relief as will abate or remove such Pawnshop and restrain and
enjoin any person from operating, conducting or maintaining a Pawnshop contrary to the
provisions of this chapter. In addition, violation of the provisions of this article shall be per se
grounds for suspension or revocation of any related permit or License granted hereunder.
Sec. 9. - Receipt of goods from minors unlawful.
It is unlawful for any Pawnbroker, his agents or employees, or any Pawnshop to
receive in pawn, pledge or sale, goods of any character or description from a minor.
Page 6 of 17
Sec. 10. - Receipt of new in box items unlawful.
It is unlawful for any Pawnbroker, his agents or employees, or any Pawnshop to
receive in pawn, pledge or sale, goods of any character or description any item which is a new
in box item and unless a receipt or other proof of purchase is provided.
Sec. 11. - Application for License, review by City Council.
(a) Any person, association, partnership, corporation, trust or joint venture desiring to
obtain a License to operate, engage in, conduct or carry on a Pawnshop as required by this
article shall make application to the finance director through his or her designated
representative,
(b) Each application for a Pawnshop License shall contain the following information:
(1) The owner(s)'s full true and legal name(s) and any other aliases or name
changes used in the last five years.
(2) The present address and telephone number of the owner(s).
(3) Acceptable written proof that the owner(s) is at least 18 years of age.
(4) Business, occupation or employment history of the owner(s) for the five
years immediately preceding the date of the application.
(5) The Pawnshop license history of the owner(s) and whether, in previous
operations in this or any other city, state or territory, the owner(s) has had such license
revoked or suspended. If such license has been revoked or suspended, the owner(s)
must state the reason, and the business activity or occupation subsequent to such
action of suspension or revocation.
(6) If the owner(s) is a corporation, the name of the corporation shall be set
forth exactly as shown in its articles of incorporation or charter, together with place
and date of incorporation, and the names and addresses of each of its current officers
and directors. If the owner(s) is a partnership, the applicant shall set forth the name,
residence address and dates of birth of the partners. If the owner(s) is a limited
partnership, it shall furnish a copy of its certificate filed with the county clerk or
secretary of state. If one or more of the partners is a corporation, the provisions of this
subsection pertaining to corporations shall apply. The owner corporation(s) or
partnership(s) shall designate one of its officers or general partners to act as its
responsible managing officer. Such designated persons shall complete and sign all
application forms required of an individual owner under this article, but only one
application fee shall be charged.
Page 7 of 17
(7) If any of the owners have been convicted of any crime involving moral
character in the past ten years, the owner must provide a complete description of any
such crime including date of violation, date of conviction, jurisdiction and any
disposition, including any fine or sentence imposed and whether the terms of the
disposition have been fully completed.
(8) If the owner is a person doing business under a trade name, a copy of the
trade name, properly recorded, must be provided. If owner is a corporation, a copy of
authority to do business in Georgia, including articles of incorporation, trade name,
affidavit, if any, and the last annual report, if any, must be provided.
(9) At least three character references from individuals who are not related to
the owners and who are not or will not benefit financially in any way from the
application if the License is granted and who have not been convicted of any crime
involving moral character. The finance department shall prepare forms, consistent
with the provisions of this article, for the owner who shall submit all character
references on such forms.
(10) Address of the premises to be regulated.
(11) A plat of survey prepared and sealed by a surveyor registered in the state
of Georgia certifying that the location is no closer than 2,500 to another Pawnshop and
no closer than 500 feet to the following: (a) structure in residential use, (b) public or
private school, (c) public or private park or recreation facility, (d) public library
branch, (e) church or similar place of religious worship, (f) public or private hospital
or mental health care facility, (g) or child care or day care facility. The distance
requirements described herein shall be measured in a straight line from the closest
point of the property line of the site proposed to be occupied by the Pawnshop to the
closest property line of any use or structure identified herein.
(12) Whether the premises are owned or rented.
(13) Nature and character of the business to be conducted.
(14) Each application for a Pawnshop License shall be verified and
acknowledged under oath to be true and correct by all owners.
(15) The owners must disclose any ownership Interest in any other Pawnshop,
whether it is located locally or out-of-state and must disclose the nature of such
Interest.
(16) The owner(s) must certify that there are no fees, taxes, fines, utilities or
other charges due to the City.
(17) Any other information that may be required by the finance director or
Police department such as source of financing for the business operation.
Page 8 of 17
(c) The owners' representative shall personally appear at the City and shall present the
application containing the above -referenced information.
(d) The City shall have up to 30 days to investigate the application and background of
the applicant.
(e) Upon completion of the review of the application by the finance department and
the Police department, the matter shall be placed on an agenda for consideration by the Mayor
and Council who may grant or deny the application consistent with this article. A denial of
the application may be appealed to superior court.
Sec. 12. - Denial of an application.
The finance director may recommend rejection, and the City Council may deny an
application which shows any of the following exist:
(1) The required fees or taxes have not been paid.
(2) The Pawnshop will be located within 2,500 feet of another Pawnshop, or within
500 feet of a structure in residential use, public or private school, public or Private Park or
recreation facility, public library branch, church or similar place of religious worship, public
or private hospital or mental health care facility, or child care or day care facility.
(3) The application does not conform to all the provisions required by the article.
(4) The owner has failed to fully cooperate with the investigation required by this
article,
(5) Any owner has had any Pawnshop or Pawnbroker License issued under the police
powers of any county, municipality, or other governmental subdivision suspended or revoked
within the last ten years for the reason related to good moral character as defined herein.
(6) The owner, as a previous holder of a Pawnshop or Pawnbroker License has
violated any law, regulation or ordinance relating to the business, within a ten-year period
immediately preceding the date of the application.
(7) Any owner has been convicted in a court of competent jurisdiction within the last
ten years of an offense involving any felony or any crime involving theft, fraud or against
property or convicted in any state of any offense which if committed or attempted in this
state, would have been punishable as one or more of the above-mentioned offenses.
(8) Any owner has engaged in any deceptive business practice as defined herein.
(9) Any owner is less than 18 years of age.
(10) Any owner is not to be Good moral character as defined herein.
Page 9 of 17
(11) Any owner has failed to obtain any paper or document necessary in pursuance of
this business or this application as may be required by any officer, agency or department of
the city, county, state or United States under authority of any law, ordinance or resolution of
the city, state or United States.
Sec. 13. - Considerations in hearing of application.
In considering whether or not a License applied for shall be granted, the following
shall be considered by Mayor and Council in the public interest and welfare;
(1) If any owner is a previous holder of a License, the manner in which he or she
conducted the business thereunder as to the necessity for unusual police observation and
inspection in order to prevent the violation of any law, regulation or ordinance relating to the
business.
(2) The location for which the License is sought as to traffic congestion, general
character of the neighborhood and the effect such an establishment would have on the
adjacent and surrounding property values.
(3) The number of Licenses already granted for similar businesses in the City and the
place for which the License is sought.
Sec. 14. - Change of location, name, or other information.
(a) No Pawnbroker shall move from the location specified on its License until a
change of location fee, established by City Council, has been deposited with the City and
approval has been obtained from the finance department for the City. Such approval shall not
be given unless all requirements and regulations, as contained in the City's code, have been
met.
(b) No owner shall operate, conduct, manage, engage in, or carry on a Pawnbroker
business under any name other than his name and the name of the business as specified on the
License.
(c) The owner shall notify the finance department of any change in the information,
material or data set out in the original application.
Page 10 of 17
Sec. 15. - Revocation and appeal of License.
(a) The City Council shall be authorized to suspend, revolve or place on probation with
or without conditions, any License previously granted herein, upon hearing, with at least five
days' written notice mailed to the owner at the Licensed establishment or upon one or more
the following: as
(1) An owner gave false or misleading information in the original application
process;
(2) An owner commits a deceptive business practice as defined herein;
(3) An owner has knowingly allowed the continuous violation of an ordinance
of the city or other law of the State of Georgia to occur on the premises;
(4) An owner has violated any provision of the Pawnbroker ordinance;
(5) An owner has been convicted of any felony or any crime involving theft,
fraud or against property, by the State of Georgia or the city regarding an offense
which was committed on the premises or which would otherwise violate the
provisions of this article;
(6) An owner fails to pay any fee, occupation tax, fine or other amount of
money due to the city under this article or any other ordinance of the city;
(7) An owner has failed to obtain, or has suffered the expiration, suspension or
revocation of any paper or document necessary in pursuance of its business as may be
required by any officer, agency, authority, or department of the city, state, or United
States under authority of any law, ordinance or resolutions of the city, state or the
United States;
(8) An owner made any misrepresentation of fact, whether through
advertisement or through any form of direct communication oral or written, which is
intended to mislead the public or to mislead any party with whom the owner deals in
pursuance of the regulated business. The term misrepresentation of fact as used herein
shall embrace not only express misrepresentations but also misrepresentations arising
by virtue of the owner's conduct, including acts and omissions;
(9) An owner has failed to make an entry of any material matter in his
permanent record book; or falsified, obliterated, destroyed or removed from his place
of business such permanent record book;
(10) An owner has failed to submit the daily report to the police department
within the prescribed time; or has submitted an illegible, incomplete or improper daily
report to the police department;
Page 11 of 17
(11) An owner has refused to allow any duly authorized law enforcement
officer to inspect his permanent record book, his daily report or any goods in his
possession during the ordinary hours of business or at any reasonable time;
(12) An owner has failed to maintain a record of each pawn transaction, and
fingerprints and photographs for at least four years;
(13) An owner has accepted a pledge or purchase of property from a person
under the age of 18 years or who the owner knows is not the true owner of such
property;
(14) An owner has made an agreement requiring the personal liability of the
pledgor or seller or waiving any of the provisions of this part or providing for a
maturity date less than one month after the date of the pawn transaction; or
(15) An owner has failed to return or replace the pledged goods to the pledgor
or seller upon payment of the full amount due the owner unless the pledged goods
have been taken into custody by a court or law enforcement officer or agency.
(c) The decision of mayor and city council shall be final.
Sec. 16. - License number.
Each owner hereunder shall have printed on the front window of the regulated
premises the inscription, "City of Milton Pawnshop License Number it in
uniform letters not less than three inches in height.
Sec. 17. - Records and information to be maintained; display of Pawnshop transaction
number; identification; digital photographs; fingerprints; records storage.
(a) All Pawnbrokers shall maintain records documenting accurate descriptions of all
property pledged, traded, pawned, exchanged, or sold to the Pawnbroker. Such description
shall include, to the extent possible, the manufacturer, model, serial number, style, material,
kind, color, design, number of stones if jewelry, and all other identifying names, marks, and
numbers. The Pawnbroker shall assign a Pawnshop transaction number documenting each
transaction, and ensure each item received is tagged with the Pawnshop transaction number.
(b) A well focused, properly exposed, color digital photograph of all property sold to
the Pawnbroker shall be made at the time of acquisition of any article and of the article's
serial number, which number shall be clearly visible and readable in the images if imprinted
on the article. If the article was never imprinted with any type of serial number, then the
image shall show the entire article. All such digital images shall be labeled and stored in
such a manner that they are safe from corruption, readily identifiable, and readily available
for review.
Page 12 of 17
(c) The tag bearing the Pawnshop transaction number must remain attached to the item
until the property is disposed of by sale, trade, or other lawful means. This paragraph does
not apply to the purchase of property from licensed wholesale or distributor businesses for the
purpose of retail sales, however the Pawnbroker shall be required to maintain all purchasing
records for property exempted from this paragraph.
(d) The Pawnbroker shall require all persons pledging, trading, pawning, exchanging,
or selling property to show proper identification prior to conducting a Pawnshop transaction.
Proper identification is defined as a government -issued photo identification card such as a
driver's license, military identification card, state identification card, or passport.
(e) The Pawnbroker shall also document the name, address, telephone number, race,
sex, height, weight, driver's license number, date of birth, and social security number of the
person pledging, trading, pawning, exchanging, or selling the property, along with the date
and time of transaction. This documentation shall be made at the time of the transaction.
(f) At the time of acquisition of the property by the Pawnbroker, the Pawnbroker shall
make and store a well focused, properly exposed, digital photograph of the person pledging,
trading, pawning, exchanging, or selling the property. The photograph shall clearly show a
frontal view of the subject's face along with the Pawnbroker's ticket transaction number.
Digital images shall be labeled and stored in such a manner that they are safe from corruption,
readily identifiable, and readily available for review. Such images shall be stored for a
minimum period of 4 years from the date of creation.
(g) The Pawnbroker shall obtain from each person pledging, trading, pawning,
exchanging, or selling any property, the fingerprint (using an electronic digital fingerprint
scanner) of the right hand index finger, unless such finger is missing, in which event the print
of the next finger in existence on the right hand shall be obtained with a notation as to the
exact finger printed. The fingerprint shall be imprinted onto the pawn transaction form in the
designated area along with the signature of the person pawning, trading, pledging,
exchanging, or selling the property. The fingerprint must be clear and legible. In the event
that more than one pawn transaction form is required, a fingerprint and signature shall be
obtained for each form. Fingerprints and the information required herein shall be obtained
each time such person pledges, trades, pawns, exchanges, or sells any property.
(h) Items of property that appear to be new, unused, and in their original packaging
cannot be accepted by the Pawnbroker unless the customer can supply a copy of the original
sales receipt, or other proof of purchase from the place of purchase, to the Pawnbroker who
shall retain the receipt or proof of purchase on file.
(i) The Pawnbroker shall store the above records, digital images, and digital
fingerprints for a period of four years and make them available to law enforcement personnel
upon request.
0) Every Pawnshop shall enter each transaction as it occurs into the electronic
automated reporting system via the internet to the administrator of the electronic automated
Page 13 of 17
reporting system. The administrator of the electronic automated reporting system will
electronically transmit all transactions to the City Police department.
Sec. 18. - Daily report to police, required format.
(a) Every Pawnbroker shall make a daily report in such form as may be prescribed
by the chief of police, of all Pawnshop transactions that occurred during 24 hours ending at
9;00 p. in. on the date of the report.
(b) Daily reports shall list all property pledged, traded, pawned, exchanged, or sold,
the pawn transaction number for each transaction, and a description of the property including,
to the extent possible, the manufacturer, model, serial number, style, material, kind, color,
design, number of stones if jewelry, and any other identifying names, marks, and numbers.
The daily report shall also list the name, address, race, sex, height, weight, driver's license
number, date of birth, and social security number of the person pledging, trading, pawning,
exchanging, or selling the property, along with the date and time of the transaction.
(c) Every Pawnshop shall enter each transaction as it occurs into the electronic
automated reporting system via the internet to the administrator of the electronic automated
reporting system. The administrator of the electronic automated reporting system will
electronically transmit all transactions to the city police department.
(d) In the event that the electronic automated reporting system becomes temporarily or
permanently disabled, Pawnshops and Pawnbrokers will be notified as soon as possible.
Pawnshops that incur electronic system failures or other events that would cause partial or
complete loss of electronic reporting should notify the police department forthwith with the
reason of the failure. In this event, the Pawnbrokers will be required to make records of
transactions on paper forms. A digital camera will be used to collect the required pictures and
transferred to a CD for submittal. The paper forms must include information as enumerated
in section 17. Pawnbrokers shall maintain a minimum three-day supply of these paper forms.
On a daily basis, all transactions not reported in electronic automated reporting system, will
be delivered to the police department by the Pawnshop within two hours of the end of the
business day for every day until the event has been corrected.
(e) The Chief of Police or his or her designee shall designate the required automated
reporting system. There will be a regulatory fee assessed to each Pawnshop for each reported
transaction: said fee shall be an amount set by the chief of police equal to that charged by the
administrator. This fee will be invoiced to the Pawnbroker and collected by the chief of
police or his or her designee, which may be a third party administrator of the automated
reporting system.
(f) To the extent allowed by law, the Chief of Police may, in his or her discretion,
authorize any person who demonstrates theft of pawnable goods by the presenting of an
incident report or other similar document to inspect the reports in an effort to locate stolen
property.
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Sec. 19. -Reserved.
Sec. 20. - Conflict of interest of city employees.
(a) No employee of the city who has any interest in a Pawnshop, as defined herein,
shall be assigned to work in an area or division of the city which regulates the business of
Pawnshops.
(b) No employee of the city with regulating authority may own, work in or be
employed (paid or unpaid) by a Pawnshop inside the city limits of the city. Regulating
authority, for purposes of this article, is defined as any person involved in or assigned to the
inspection of the premises, approval of the License or Pawnbroker permits; and granting or
denying of such applications or permits, or enforcement of this article and its provisions such
as law enforcement or police officers.
(c) No employee of the city with regulating authority as defined herein, may regulate a
Pawnshop where such is owned or operated by any person related to the employee of the city
within a third degree of kinship. The term third degree of kinship shall include, for purposes
of this article, children, grandchildren, mother, father, brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles,
first cousins and in-laws.
(d) The definition of employees does not include elected officials of the city.
(e) All persons already engaging in the operation of or employment by a Pawnshop
prior to the effective date of this article shall be exempt from the provisions of this section,
and shall be allowed to continue such operation or employment, provided they meet all the
other conditions imposed by this article.
Sec. 21. - Additional merchandise.
A Pawnbroker selling goods other than those pledged may add new merchandise to his
stock of the same type as that on which loans are made, up to a value of $1,000.00 per month,
without having to pay an additional occupation tax as would otherwise be imposed according
to the terms of the business taxes of the city. The Pawnbroker must maintain all records,
invoices, and bills of sale on such merchandise which shall be subject to inspection and
review by any duly authorized law enforcement. No article(s) shall be maintained on the
premises for sale on a consignment basis for any citizen, employee or Pawnbroker.
Sec. 22. - Disposition of articles orog ods.
Any Pawnbroker who takes goods on pawn or buys goods, taking full title thereto, the
words goods being here used in the broadest sense and including all kinds of personal
property, shall hold those goods so taken in pawn or purchased for at least 30 days or longer if
directed by the Police department before disposing of same by sale, transfer, shipment or
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otherwise. All property and/or titles taken in pawn or purchased must be kept on the premises
where such items were pawned or purchased. These articles/titles will be maintained in an
area not accessed by customers. Failure to comply with this section shall constitute a
violation of this code section, as defined herein.
Sec. 23. - Restrictions regarding sale or pledge of building glass or plumbing material.
(a) Generally. It is unlawful for Pawnbrokers to purchase, advance money on, or take
in pawn, glass taken from buildings, such as mantel mirrors, art glass and the like, or copper
wire, copper linings of bathtubs, lead pipes or any kind of plumbing materials sold as junk,
where same is offered for sale or pawned by other than persons of known good character.
Sec. 24. - Redemption; lost or damaged goods.
Any person properly identifying himself/herself and presenting a pawn ticket to the
Pawnbroker shall be presumed to be the pledgor or seller and shall be entitled to redeem the
pledged goods described in such ticket. In the event such pledged goods are lost or damaged
while in the possession of the Pawnbroker, it shall be the responsibility of the Pawnbroker to
replace the lost or damaged goods with like kinds of merchandise and proof of replacement
shall be a defense to prosecution. For the purposes of this subsection, lost includes destroyed
or having disappeared because of any cause, whether known or unknown, that results in the
pledged goods being unavailable for return to pledgor.
Sec. 25. — Business Hours; Sunday peration Prohibited.
No Pawnbroker shall open his place of business of conduct any business therein
between the hours of 9:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m.; provided however, that such place of business
may remain open until 10:00 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Notwithstanding the foregoing
sentence, no Pawnbroker shall open his place of business or conduct any business therein on
Sundays.
Sec. 26. — Duties of Pawnbroker.
(a) It is unlawful for Pawnbrokers or employees thereof to purchase any goods, or
to advance any money thereon, where their appearance indicates they have been tampered
with, or there is an effort to conceal identity, or same are mutilated, or otherwise show an
effort to destroy evidence of the former location of the property. It shall be the duty of every
person operating or employed by a Pawnbroker's License, to report to the Chief of Police or
his or her duly authorized agent any attempt to sell or pawn any such article or goods to him.
(b) It shall be the duty of every person operating or employed by a Pawnbroker's
License, to report to the Chief of Police or his or her duly authorized agent any article or
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goods sold or pawned to him if he shall or reasonably should have a reason to believe that the
article or goods was stolen or lost when presented by the seller or customer.
(c) While the goods are being kept for 30 days before being disposed of, they shall be
so arranged that they can be inspected by members of the police department on demand and
the article location(s) shall be annotated in records readily available for inspection by the
police department. Failure to comply with this section shall constitute a violation of this
Article.
Sec. 27. - Penalties for violation.
Any person violating the provisions of this article shall be guilty of a misdemeanor
punishable pursuant to 1-5. In addition to such fine or imprisonment, any person failing to
comply with any provision of this article, or other laws, ordinances or regulations as may be
passed by City Council in regulating the conduct of the business of a Pawnbroker, shall be
grounds for immediate suspension or revocation of the License hereunder.
Sec. 28. - Business existing on date of adoption of this article.
All persons already engaging in the business of operating a Pawnshop prior to the
effective date of this article shall file an application in accordance with the terms of this
article by January 1 for the first year in which such License is requested, and each year
thereafter, on January 1 of the year for which such License is requested in accordance with
the renewal provisions set forth in this article. If the City Council shall determine that the
application filed pursuant to this subsection should be denied the applicant may continue to
operate his or her business until the conclusion of the year in which they have a License to
operate.
Sec. 29. -Reserved.
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