[HISTORY: Adopted by the Borough Council
of the Borough of Ephrata 12-8-1986 by Ord. No. 1155.[1] Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Abandoned vehicles and property — See Ch. 111.
Garage and yard sales — See Ch. 189.
Transient retail businesses — See Ch. 293.
[1]
Editor's Note: The title of this chapter was amended from
"Junk Dealers" to "Pawnbrokers and Antique, Secondhand and Junk Dealers"
7-11-2011 by Ord. No. 1475.
A.
When not inconsistent with the context, words used
in the present tense include the future, words in the plural number
include the singular number, words in the singular number include
the plural number, and words in the masculine gender shall include
the feminine. The word "shall" is always mandatory and not merely
directory.
B.
AGENT
ANTIQUE OR SECONDHAND DEALER
BUSINESS
DEALER IN PRECIOUS METALS
ELECTRONIC INVENTORY TRACKING SYSTEM
JUNK DEALER
LICENSE
PAWNBROKER
(1)
(2)
(3)
PERSON
PLEDGE
PLEDGOR
POLICE CHIEF
POLICE
PRECIOUS METALS
PREMISES
The following terms, phrases, words and their derivations
shall have the following meanings:
A natural individual, unincorporated association, partnership,
corporation or any other legally recognized entity, and the members
of such partnership and the officers of such corporation, their employees
and contractors, authorized by the Council of the Borough of Ephrata
to provide electronic inventory tracking services for the use of the
Ephrata Police Department to assist in the identification of stolen
merchandise and the investigation of thefts.
[Added 5-8-2017 by Ord.
No. 1530]
Any person who either wholly or in part engages in or operates
the trade or business of buying and/or selling used goods, such as
antiques, precious stones, metals, jewelry, tools, electrical devices,
coins, fixtures, appliances, household goods, firearms and bric-a-brac.
Hobbiests are excluded, which are defined as any person who is engaged
in the buying/selling of antiques, toys, precious stones, coins, jewelry,
precious metals and firearms in amounts of less than 50% of total
annual income and who do not operate from a rented or owned area outside
the home. The foregoing enumeration of articles, goods and property
shall not be deemed to be exclusive or all inclusive. Exempted are
judicial sales or sales by executors or administrators, sales by unredeemed
pledges by or on behalf of licensed pawnbrokers in the manner prescribed
by law, occasional or auction sales of household goods sold from private
homes and auctions of real estate.
Every kind of vocation, occupation, profession, enterprise,
establishment and all other kinds of activities and matters, together
with all devices, machines, vehicles and appurtenances used therein,
which are conducted for profit or benefit, directly or indirectly,
on any premises in the Borough.
An individual, partnership, association, corporation or business
entity who or which purchases precious metals from the general public
for resale or refining or an individual who acts as agent for the
individual, partnership, association, corporation or business entity
for the purchases. The term does not include financial institutions
licensed under the federal or state banking laws, the purchaser of
precious metals who purchases from a seller seeking a trade-in or
allowance, the manufacturers of jewelry or of other items composed,
in whole or in part, of gold, silver or platinum and the purchaser
of precious metals for his or her own use
[Added 7-11-2011 by Ord. No. 1475]
A secure, confidential electronic database system authorized
by the Council of the Borough of Ephrata, designed for law enforcement
agencies to assist the tracking and identification of certain personal
property, and that provides to each authorized user login security
protocols that employ technologies to protect acquired data from unauthorized
access and malicious intrusion.
[Added 5-8-2017 by Ord.
No. 1530]
Any person who shall carry on the business of buying or selling
and dealing in worn out and discarded material that may be turned
to some use, especially scrap, iron, brass, lead, copper, aluminum
and other metals or alloys or other materials commonly referred to
as "junk."
Such document(s) as the Chief of Police or his or her designated
representative shall prescribe by rule or regulation as evidence that
the provisions of this chapter have been properly followed.
Any person who:
Engages in the business of lending money on
the deposit or pledge of personal property other than choses in action,
securities or written evidence of indebtedness;
Purchases personal property with an express
or implied agreement or understanding to sell it back at a subsequent
time at a stipulated price; or
Lends money upon goods, wares or merchandise
pledged, stored or deposited as collateral security.
Individual natural persons, partnerships, joint ventures,
societies, associations, clubs, trustees, trusts or corporations,
or any officers, agents, employees, factors or any kind of personal
representative of any of the above, in any capacity, acting either
for himself or for any person, under either personal appointment or
pursuant to law.
An article or articles deposited with a pawnbroker as security
for a loan in the course of his or her business as defined under "pawnbroker."
The person who obtains a loan from a pawnbroker and delivers
a pledge into the possession of a pawnbroker, unless such person discloses
that he or she is or was acting for another, in which case a "pledgor"
means the disclosed principal.
The Chief of Police of the Ephrata Borough Police Department
or his or her designated representative.
The publicly supported Police Department of the Borough of
Ephrata.
Items containing or being of gold, silver or platinum, including,
but not limited to, jewelry and silver services. The term does not
include coins, ingots, bullion or photographic film or articles containing
less than 5% of gold, silver or platinum.
[Added 7-11-2011 by Ord. No. 1475]
All lands, structures, places and also the equipment and
appurtenances connected or used therewith in any business, and also
any personal property which is either affixed to or is otherwise used
in connection with any such business conducted on such premises.
A.
It is unlawful for any pawnbroker, junk dealer or
antique or secondhand dealer to exercise or carry on trade or business
within the Borough of Ephrata without first obtaining a license from
the Borough and displaying it in a place where it may be seen at all
times.
B.
It is unlawful for any pawnbroker, junk dealer, antique
or secondhand dealer to receive, accept or purchase articles from
individuals under 18 years of age, any person under the influence
of drugs or intoxicants or any known thieves.
C.
It is unlawful for any pawnbroker, junk dealer or
antique or secondhand dealer to receive, accept or purchase from anyone
not known to them without first requiring some form of identification
which, at a minimum, shall include the individual's name, address
and either the individual's motor vehicle operator's number, the individual's
social security number or, if the individual does not have this information,
other such proof of identity as the Chief of Police shall provide
by regulation.
D.
It is unlawful for any pawnbroker, junk dealer or
antique or secondhand dealer to fail to keep or forward other records
and books as required by this chapter.
E.
It is unlawful for any pawnbroker, junk dealer or
antique or secondhand dealer to fail to permit the police all reasonable
inspections of his or her business and examinations of his or her
books containing information required to be kept by this chapter.
F.
It is unlawful for any pawnbroker, junk dealer or
antique or secondhand dealer to operate his or her business after
his or her license is revoked or suspended.
G.
It is unlawful for any pawnbroker, junk dealer or
antique or secondhand dealer to loan, sell, give, assign to any other
person or allow any other person to use or display or to destroy,
damage or remove or to have in his or her possession, except as authorized,
any license which has been issued to said licensee.
H.
It is unlawful for any pawnbroker, junk dealer or
antique or secondhand dealer to fail to keep in Ephrata Borough and
retain in the original form, shape or condition any items acquired
in the course of their business for a minimum period of 72 hours from
the time of furnishing the required report to the police. In the case
where retention for the time period required would result in serious
and substantial economic loss to the dealer or the probability of
such loss is significant due to rapid or highly fluctuating market
conditions or in the case of a transient business or person who desires
to move the items acquired from the Borough shortly after purchase,
the minimum retention period may be waived by the police after inspection
and, if necessary, any photographing of the goods by police. The waiver
shall be acknowledged in writing by the police upon the completed
report form required to be turned into the police.
A.
Every individual or person desiring to engage in those acts referred to in § 197-2A above must obtain a license from the Borough of Ephrata.
B.
To obtain a license, individuals or persons must complete
a written application which shall contain such information as is reasonably
required by the Chief of Police but which, at a minimum, shall include
a sworn affidavit that the information furnished is true and correct.
C.
Upon receipt of a complete application accompanied by the fee required in § 197-4, the Police Department shall have 15 working days to investigate the applicant, process the application and to grant or deny a license.
D.
Licenses to applicants shall be denied if:
(1)
The applicant does not agree to comply or fails to
comply with the requirements of this chapter and rules and regulations
adopted pursuant to this chapter;
(2)
The applicant has knowingly made any false, misleading
or fraudulent statement of a material act in the application or in
any report or record required to be kept or filed with the police;
(3)
The applicant or his or her employee, agent, representative or contractor
or other person engaged in the business has been convicted of the
crime of burglary, theft or receiving stolen goods; or
[Amended 4-14-2014 by Ord. No. 1502]
(4)
The applicant has had a similar license revoked or
suspended in good cause in this or another state for reasons which
justify suspension or revocation in this chapter.
E.
If the applicant is approved, the Chief of Police
or his or her designated representative is authorized to sign and
issue the license.
F.
If a license is denied, the applicant shall be notified in writing of the denial and the basis thereof. If the reasons for denial are correctable, the applicant will be advised with suggestions on how these corrections can be made and what time limit has been set for making said corrections. The notice of denial shall inform the applicant that appeals may be made in the manner outlined in § 197-6 of this chapter.
[Amended 4-8-1996 by Ord. No. 1279]
B.
All antique dealers or secondhand dealers, excluding
hobbiests, shall pay a license fee as established from time to time
by resolution of the Borough Council[2] per calendar year. Those antiques or secondhand dealers
who engage in no promotion and advertising and can prove by appropriate
records that total purchases in the previous year did not exceed $1,500
are exempt from the license fee and shall pay an alternative fee as
established from time to time by resolution of the Borough Council.[3]
A.
Any license issued may be suspended or revoked by
the Chief of Police for any of the reasons below:
(1)
The practice of any fraud, deceit, misrepresentation
or furnishing false information in obtaining or attempting to obtain
a license.
(2)
The practice of fraud, deceit, misrepresentation or
furnishing false information in the course of carrying on the licensed
business.
(3)
The conviction of any of the unlawful activities set
forth in this chapter for the particular business license involved.
(4)
Violation of or noncompliance with the provisions
of this chapter or rules and regulations issued under the authority
of this chapter.
(5)
Loaning, borrowing or using a license of another,
or of knowingly aiding or abetting in any way the granting of improper
licenses.
(6)
The doing of any act or engaging in any conduct in
the course of the business which demonstrates incompetency, bad faith
or dishonesty or substantially adversely affects the health, safety
or general welfare of the public.
B.
When the Chief of Police decides to suspend or revoke
a license issued under this chapter, he or she shall cause notice
to be sent to the licensee which shall contain the reasons for suspension
or revocation.
A.
Any person aggrieved by denial of an application for
a license or renewal of a license or suspension or revocation of a
license shall have the right of appeal to Ephrata Borough Council.
B.
Appeals must be filed within 15 days after receipt
of notice from the Chief of Police. Appeals shall be made by filing
with the Secretary of Ephrata Borough Council a letter of appeal briefly
stating therein the basis for the appeal, together with a filing and
processing fee in the amount as established from time to time by resolution
of the Borough Council.[1]
[Amended 4-8-1996 by Ord. No. 1279]
[1]
Editor's Note: The current fee schedule is on file in the
office of the Borough Manager.
C.
Failure to file a letter of appeal within the fifteen-day
period shall constitute a waiver of appellant's right to a hearing;
however, Borough Council, in its sole discretion, may nevertheless
grant such a hearing.
D.
The hearing by Ephrata Borough Council will be set
no more than 15 days after receipt of the letter of appeal. Five days'
advance notice of the time and date of the hearing shall be sent to
the appellant.
E.
At the hearing with the Borough Council, the appellant
and any other interested party shall be given a reasonable opportunity
to be heard in order to show cause why the determination of the Chief
of Police should not be upheld. In all cases, the burden of proof
shall be upon the appellant to show that there was no substantial
evidence to support the decision of the Police Chief.
F.
The hearing may be recorded by tape or other mechanical
means. A brief summary of the evidence considered, findings of fact
and the final decision reached by the Borough Council shall be prepared.
The decision of the Borough Council shall be binding on all parties.
A.
Within 30 days from its receipt of the secure, confidential,
electronic inventory tracking system provided to that dealer by the
Police Department or its agent, every pawnbroker, junk dealer, antique
or secondhand dealer shall create daily reports that are generated,
installed, maintained and employed via that secure, confidential electronic
inventory tracking system. Each report shall:
[Amended 3-11-2013 by Ord. No. 1490; 5-8-2017 by Ord. No. 1530]
(1)
Be electronically
transmitted and received by the Police Department or its agent by
the close of business each day; and
(2)
Contain
a chronological listing of all transactions and articles received
during the course of business for that business day, together with
the description of the person or persons making such sale, including
such person’s name, age and address, and an accurate description
of each article received, accepted or bought, including brand name,
model number, serial number, inscribed initials, dates, names and
any other forms of identification on the article, and a notification
of the type of identification accepted by the dealer, along with an
identifier number assigned by the dealer to that article; and
(3)
Contain
photographs of each item purchased that shall be sufficient in number,
color and detail to readily identify the item; and
(4)
Be
uploaded by the dealer to the system not later than the conclusion
of each business day in the manner specified by the Police Department
or its agent and contain all required tracking information for all
transactions that occurred during that business day.
B.
Transactions involving a trade-in or allowance on
goods or items originally sold by the dealer to the person seeking
such trade-in or allowance, a trade-in on a like item or dealer-to-dealer
are exempted from the reporting requirements.
C.
In addition, pawnbrokers, junk dealers, antique or
secondhand dealers shall file such additional reports as may from
time to time be required by the Borough and in such form as the Borough
may require from time to time by resolution.
The Chief of Police may promulgate such rules
and regulations as are necessary for administration and enforcement
of this chapter. Any such rules and regulations promulgated shall
be approved by the Borough Council and shall be available for public
inspection.
The information furnished and secured pursuant
to this chapter shall be confidential in character and shall not be
subject to public inspection and shall be kept so that the contents
thereof shall not be known except to persons charged with the administration
and enforcement of this chapter or the administration and enforcement
of the criminal justice system.
A.
Any person violating any of the provisions of this
chapter shall, upon conviction in a civil enforcement proceeding before
a Magisterial District Judge, be sentenced to pay a fine of not more
than $600 together with the costs of prosecution. Each day or portion
thereof in which a violation exists shall be considered a separate
violation of this chapter, and each article and section of each article
that is violated shall be considered a separate violation.
[Amended 4-8-1996 by Ord. No. 1279; 3-11-2013 by Ord. No. 1490]
B.
The payment of any fees required shall not be a bar
against prosecution for any violations under this chapter. Each incident
constitutes a separate offense.
[Added 7-11-2011 by Ord. No. 1475]
A.
The licensing, enforcement and penalty provisions of this Chapter 197 shall not apply to that portion of a business activity herein defined as a "dealer in precious metals" to the extent that the same shall be regulated by the provisions of the Act of February 24, 1984 (P.L. 92, No. 17) (73 P.S. §§ 1931 to 1942), and 37 Pa. Code § 501.3.
B.
This chapter
shall not repeal, abrogate, annul or in any way impair or interfere
with existing provisions of other laws or ordinances; provided, however,
that where this chapter imposes a greater restriction upon persons,
premises or personal property than is imposed or required by such
existing provisions of law, ordinance, contract or deed, the provisions
of this chapter shall control.
