[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Commissioners of the Township of Springfield 5-13-1981 by Ord. No. 703. Amendments noted where applicable.]
The following definitions shall be applicable in this chapter:
DEALER IN PRECIOUS METALS
An individual, partnership, association, corporation or other business entity, including an itinerant merchant doing business in the Township of Springfield, which purchases or makes appraisals of precious metals and their alloys for resale to refiners, brokers or the public.
PRECIOUS METALS
Items of gold, silver, platinum and their alloys, including but not limited to jewelry, but excluding coins and bullion.
No person shall engage in the business of or be employed as a dealer in precious metals unless he or she first obtains a license from the Township of Springfield.
A. 
No license shall be issued unless the applicant furnishes the township with an application setting forth the following:
(1) 
The name, home and business address and telephone number of the dealer in precious metals.
(2) 
The exact locations, if other than the business address of the dealer, where transactions in precious metals are to be conducted.
(3) 
The former business address of the dealer for the preceding three years.
(4) 
Such other information as the township may require.
B. 
The licensee shall notify the township, in writing, within 72 hours, of any changes in the information supplied to the township.
C. 
The applicant for a license hereunder shall pay an annual license fee of $100.
D. 
The license shall be prominently displayed on the premises.
E. 
Each license shall be valid for one place of business only. A dealer with more than one place of business must secure a license for each location.
F. 
All licenses shall be conditioned upon continued compliance with the provisions of this chapter. Any licensed dealer who violates any provisions of this chapter, in addition to the fine prescribed by this chapter, shall have his license revoked by the township.
A. 
All scales or other devices used by dealers to weigh precious metals must be of the type approved for commercial use in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and must be inspected and sealed by the Bureau of Weights and Measures.
B. 
The dealer of precious metals must notify the Montgomery County Bureau of Weights and Measures whenever a weighing device is moved from one location to another.
C. 
All weighing devices shall be so positioned that their indications may be accurately read and the weighing operation observed by the seller.
The dealer shall post a conspicuous sign in proximity to the place where weighings are made quoting the prices offered for the various units and fineness of precious metals.
All dealers in precious metals shall maintain records of each transaction in which they purchase precious metals from the public or give a statement of appraisal. Such information will be kept in a bound book and shall include, at least, the following information:
A. 
The name, current address and telephone number of the person making the transaction as evidenced by two documents of identification, one of which must prove the individual is at least 18 years of age.
B. 
The date and time of the transaction.
C. 
An accurate description of each item.
D. 
The source of acquisition.
E. 
Name, current address and telephone number of the purchaser or appraiser of such property.
F. 
The seller's left thumbprint.
A. 
The book required by § 70-5 shall be subject to the periodic inspection and approval of the Springfield Township Police Department.
B. 
The dealer shall return to the office of the Chief of Police a sheet to be furnished by the Police Department showing all business transacted the previous week, including the information required by § 70-5.
C. 
The information given to the Police Department shall be made under penalty of prosecution pursuant to 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 490-1(b), relating to unsworn falsification to authorities.
The dealer shall retain articles purchased for a period of 15 days in their original condition, and such articles shall be subject to the examination by the Police Department.
No dealer or his clerk or employee shall purchase any article from any person under 18 years of age, anyone intoxicated, any habitual drunkard or any person known to be a thief, an associate of thieves or receiver of stolen property or any person he has reason to suspect to be such, and must require that valid identification be presented to the dealer prior to the transaction of any business.
This chapter shall not apply to the purchase by a retailer of merchandise from an established wholesaler located within or outside of the boundaries of Springfield Township.
[Amended 7-13-1988 by Ord. No. 756]
Any dealer in precious metals who violates the provisions of this chapter shall, upon summary conviction, be subject to a fine of not more than $600 and costs and, in default of payment thereof, shall be imprisoned for not more than 30 days.