Redondo Beach Municipal Code Art. 2 Rules and Regulations

Every pawnbroker or secondhand dealer shall keep a complete record or register containing, in addition to the matters prescribed by State law (Sec. 21050 et seq. Financial Code), a description of all property, goods, wares, merchandise, or things received on deposit, consignment, pledged, purchased, or sold or otherwise disposed of, a complete description of all persons from whom he received such property, and such other information as prescribed by the Chief of Police. Such records shall be available during business hours for inspection by authorized persons.

(§ 1, Ord. 1904 c.s., eff. May 18, 1966)

(a) Once every 24 hours each pawnbroker and secondhand dealer shall make a report to the Chief of Police of the information contained in his records during the preceding 24 hour period in the form and at the time as prescribed by the Chief of Police. Such report shall be prepared in duplicate on forms specified by and approved by the Chief of Police and shall be written or printed in the English language in a clear and legible manner (no abbreviations permitted). The original shall be filed with the Police Department and shall be open for inspection by members of the Police Department only. The duplicate shall be filed at the place of business and shall be open for inspection during business hours by authorized persons. Such report shall include:

(1) The hour of the day when each article was received on deposit, pledged, consigned, purchased, or sold;

(2) The name and address, as nearly as the same are known or can be ascertained, and a description of the person depositing, pledging, consigning, selling, or purchasing each article;

(3) The amount of the purchase, sale, or amount loaned;

(4) An accurate description of each article deposited, pledged, consigned, purchased, or sold, including all typewriters and business machines with serial numbers which have been taken in for repairs; and

(5) The number of the pawn ticket, if any.

(b) It shall be the responsibility of the pawnbroker or secondhand dealer to accurately describe each pawned or purchased article as to:

(1) Manufacturer's name;

(2) Trade name;

(3) Numbers;

(4) Inscriptions;

(5) Carat;

(6) Type of mounting;

(7) Type of works;

(8) Type of stone;

(9) Type of metal; and

(10) Any other peculiarity which serves to identify.

(§ 1, Ord. 1904 c.s., eff. May 18, 1966)

The following shall be exempt from the requirements of Sections 4-16.201 and 4-16.202 of this article:

(a) Household articles. The purchase or sale by secondhand dealers of lamps, stoves, or household furniture, with the exception of sewing machines, musical instruments, and typewriters;

(b) Trade-ins. Property received in trade as part payment on new merchandise by dealers whose principal or primary business is retailing or wholesaling new merchandise. This exemption shall likewise apply when the trade-in is sold to another dealer but shall not apply to secondhand jewelry, precious metals, precious stones, and firearms capable of being concealed, cameras and camera equipment, typewriters, and all business machines;

(c) Previously reported. Buyers of property that has been previously reported to the Police Department of the City and held the required length of time shall be exempt from the requirements of Sections 4-16.201 and 4-16.202 of this article provided written assurance is obtained from the seller. The selling permittee shall be responsible for failure to report or hold;

(d) Government property. The reporting, holding, and hours' provisions shall not apply to permittees whose dealings in secondhand merchandise consist solely of property acquired from a bona fide governmental agency in job lot quantities;

(e) Donated property. Property (except guns) donated to religious, benevolent, charitable, civic, or other nonprofit organizations. Dealers who purchase such property shall also be exempt from the reporting and holding requirements but shall keep a record of the name and address of the seller; and

(f) Lumber, brick, boxes, barrels, sacks, oil drums, bottles, rope, trailers, dishes, and shoes.

(§ 1, Ord. 1904 c.s., eff. May 18, 1966)

(a) All property received or purchased shall be held 30 days at the place of business and shall be open to public view.

(b) The Detective Division of the Police Department may authorize a lesser holding period (not under three days) for good cause after such property has been checked against Wants or Crime Reports. The permittee shall record the disposition or destination of property in such cases and make such record available upon demand. Authorizing a lesser holding period shall not relieve the permittee of any responsibility in the event such property is later determined to be stolen.

(c) A police officer of the City may place a "hold order" upon property acquired by a pawnbroker or secondhand dealer. Such "hold order" shall be for a period of 90 days. After the release of the property from the "hold order", the pawnbroker or second-hand dealer shall keep a record of the disposition of such property. It is unlawful for any person to dispose of any property contrary to any "hold order" issued by a police officer of the City.

(§ 1, Ord. 1904 c.s., eff. May 18, 1966, as amended by § 1(36), Ord. 2844 c.s., eff. November 4, 1999)

The pawnbroker shall be responsible for the safekeeping of each article pawned until such time as the article has been redeemed, or ownership obtained by the pawnbroker, under the provisions of the law. In the event such pawnbroker goes out of business, moves to another location, or sells his interest in pledged articles to another pawnbroker, each pledger shall be notified in writing of such facts. In the event the interest in actively pledged articles is sold to another pawnbroker, the purchaser shall assume full responsibility for such property.

(§ 1, Ord. 1904 c.s., eff. May 18, 1966)

Every pawnbroker shall furnish a receipt to the person pawning the property, or to his agent, on each and every occasion when interest is paid. The receipt shall show the amount of interest or other charges paid, the date paid, and the period of time the interest covers.

(§ 1, Ord. 1904 c.s., eff. May 18, 1966)

Every pawnbroker shall keep an accurate legible record in the English language of all charges made for interest or otherwise on each copy of the pawnbroker's loan contract, which shall be kept at the place of business.

(§ 1, Ord. 1904 c.s., eff. May 18, 1966)

It is unlawful for any pawnbroker or secondhand dealer to transact business with any person under the age of 18 years.

(§ 1, Ord. 1904 c.s., eff. May 18, 1966)

No person shall use a fictitious name or address when selling, pledging, or leaving any property on deposit or consignment as provided in this Code.

(§ 1, Ord. 1904 c.s., eff. May 18, 1966)

It shall be the duty of the pawnbroker or secondhand dealer to require positive identification from the seller, pledgemaker, or consignee of any merchandise.

(§ 1, Ord. 1904 c.s., eff. May 18, 1966)

All transactions pertinent to the operation of a pawnshop shall be carried on only at the place of business.

(§ 1, Ord. 1904 c.s., eff. May 18, 1966)

No storage facilities shall be maintained by any pawnbroker or secondhand dealer other than those approved by the City.

(§ 1, Ord. 1904 c.s., eff. May 18, 1966)

A new permit shall be obtained in the event of a change in ownership, location, or if an additional business location is acquired. A written notice of such change shall be forwarded to the City immediately. Notice of any change in management shall be given in writing to the City.

(§ 1, Ord. 1904 c.s., eff. May 18, 1966)

It shall be the responsibility of the pawnbroker or secondhand dealer, or their agents, to familiarize themselves with all laws relating to the pawnbroker or secondhand business, whether State or local, as well as all the pertinent rules and regulations of the City.

(§ 1, Ord. 1904 c.s., eff. May 18, 1966)

A copy of the provisions of this chapter of this Code governing pawnshops and secondhand dealers shall be posted in a conspicuous place on the premises.

(§ 1, Ord. 1904 c.s., eff. May 18, 1966)