Paramount Municipal Code Ch. 5.80 Pawnbrokers, Secondhand Dealers and Junk Dealers

For the purposes of this chapter, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them by this section:

Buy-form.

The name of the form furnished by the Sheriff to the licensee for the purpose of recording and furnishing by the licensee to the Sheriff of the required information relative to purchases, pledges or consignments.

Licensee.

The persons enumerated in Sections 5.80.020 and 5.80.030.

(Prior code § 11-27)

The provisions of this chapter shall apply to all pawnbrokers, secondhand dealers, owners or operators of foundries, owners or operators of oil tool exchanges, junk dealers and auctioneers doing business in the City.

(Prior code § 11-28)

The provisions of this chapter shall apply to the owner and operator of every swap meet in the City. The provisions of this chapter shall apply to all items or articles of property sold or exchanged at or in any swap meet or in connection with the business of operation of a swap meet. The owner or operator of each swap meet shall be responsible for compliance with the provisions of this chapter on the part of each participant therein. The owner or operator of each such swap meet shall be responsible for compliance with the provisions of this chapter as to all items or articles of property sold or exchanged in connection with the operation of such business.

(Prior code § 11-29)

Every licensee shall at the close of each business day mail to the Sheriff the buy-form made out during that day. Such buy-forms shall contain a full, true and complete report of all goods, wares, merchandise or other things received on deposit, pledged or purchased during that day, except household furniture, used tires or used batteries, which household furniture, used tires or used batteries were taken in part payment for new tires or new batteries, and except merchandise originally sold new by the licensee and subsequently taken as a trade-in on other merchandise sold by the same licensee, and shall also contain other information required by the Sheriff which, considering the type of business of the licensee, may assist in the detection of stolen property.

(Prior code § 11-30)

Every person who sells, pledges or consigns any property to any licensee in the course of business covered by such license, except household furniture, used tires or used batteries taken in part payment for new tires or new batteries, and except merchandise originally sold new by the licensee and subsequently taken as a trade-in on other merchandise sold by the same licensee, shall furnish true, positive identification to the licensee by which such person can be located by the Sheriff.

(Prior code § 11-31)

Every licensee shall enter upon the buy-form positive identification furnished by the seller, pledgemaker or consignee, such as driver's license number, work badge number, auto or truck license number, junk collector's business license number, in addition to the individual's true name and address. In lieu of the positive identification mentioned above, the licensee shall require the seller, pledgemaker or consignee to furnish a plain impression print of his or her right index finger, or next finger in the event of amputation, upon the face side of the original sheet of the buy-form.

(Prior code § 11-32)

Every licensee shall preserve for a period of two years a copy of the buy-form provided for that purpose, containing a carbon copy record thereon of the original writing made by the licensee, agent or employee, the original of which has been furnished to the Sheriff. Every such record and property pledged, purchased or received by such licensee shall be produced for inspection to any peace officer.

(Prior code § 11-33)

The Sheriff shall maintain a file of all reports received pursuant to the terms of this chapter for a period of two years and such reports shall be open to inspection by any peace officer.

(Prior code § 11-34)

A person, other than a used car dealer, shall not melt, destroy, sell or otherwise dispose of any article, goods, wares, merchandise or thing obtained or used in any business for the conduct of which a license is required by this chapter until 14 days after making a report to the Sheriff as required by Section 5.80.040 that such article, goods, wares, merchandise or thing has been purchased or received by such person.

(Prior code § 11-35)

A foundry or junk dealer shall not melt, destroy, sell or otherwise dispose of any metal purchased or received by it which is, or by economically feasible repair can be made usable for the purpose for which it was originally designed until 21 days after making a report to the Sheriff as required by Section 5.80.040 that such metal has been received by the foundry or junk dealer.

(Prior code § 11-36)

Until any article, goods, wares, merchandise or thing pledged to or purchased by any licensee under this chapter are held for the time required by this chapter or released by the Sheriff, such licensee shall not clean, alter, repair, paint or otherwise change the appearance of such articles, goods, wares, merchandise or things. At all times during business hours, he or she shall expose the same to public view.

(Prior code § 11-37)

The Sheriff may release any property covered by this chapter which he or she inspects, if after such inspection he or she is satisfied that such property is in the lawful possession of the licensee.

(Prior code § 11-38)

The Sheriff may place a hold order upon any property acquired by the licensee in the course of his or her business for a period of 90 days, and upon release of such property may require the licensee to keep a true record of such property and included therewith the true name and address of the person to whom such property was sold, or any other method of disposition.

(Prior code § 11-39)

A licensee under this chapter shall not export from this County any goods, wares, merchandise, or things pledged to or received by such licensee in his or her capacity as licensee until the Sheriff has inspected and released such property.

(Prior code § 11-40)

The waiting period mentioned in Section 5.80.100 and the making of buy-forms mentioned in Section 5.80.040 does not apply to property purchased from a licensee holding a similar City license, if in the sale of such property such licensee has complied with all the provisions of this chapter. This section does not apply to purchases made by junk dealers from junk collectors. A junk collector's license is not similar to a junk dealer's license.

(Prior code § 11-41)

The provisions contained in Sections 5.80.070 and 5.80.100 shall not be deemed to apply to the purchase or the sale by junk dealers or junk collectors of rags, bottles, other than milk or cream bottles, secondhand sacks, other than cement sacks, barrels, cans, shoes, lamps, stoves or household furniture, with the exception of sewing machines and musical instruments, or the purchase or sale by secondhand dealers of household furniture, with the exception of sewing machines, all musical instruments and typewriters.

(Prior code § 11-42)

The waiting period required by Section 5.80.100 does not apply to property purchased on a bill of sale or invoice from a regularly established place of business. As used in this section, an established place of business means a place of business which has been dealing in the type of articles purchased at the same location for not less than two years.

(Prior code § 11-43)

A copy of this chapter shall be furnished each new licensee upon the first delivery of the buy-form by the Sheriff. The licensee shall be furnished with all subsequent amendments that affect the type of business of the licensee. Additional copies of this chapter and amendments may be procured from the City Clerk by the licensee upon demand.

(Prior code § 11-44)