[HISTORY: Adopted by the City Council of the City of Paterson 12-18-1979 by Ord. No. 79-111 as Ch. 9, Art. 11, of the 1979 Revised General Ordinances of Paterson. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Motor vehicle junk dealers — See Ch. 287.
Secondhand dealers — See Ch. 399.
A. 
The purpose of this chapter is to raise revenue and to regulate the junkyard business referred to in this chapter.
B. 
Nothing in this chapter is intended to apply to the regulation and licensing of businesses exclusively engaged in buying and dismantling of used automobiles and of buying and selling used automobile parts, the regulation and licensing of which are set forth in Chapter 287, Junk Dealers, Motor Vehicle.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
ALUMINUM MATERIALS
Any aluminum cable, bar, rod, pipe or tubing of the type used to construct utility, communication or broadcasting towers, aluminum utility wire, aluminum radiators not attached to a motor vehicle, aluminum irrigation pipe or tubing, or any aluminum artwork, ornament, roofing or railing, whether composed of aluminum or alloys thereof, or any combination of these. Aluminum materials does not include aluminum cans that have served their original economic purpose.
[Added 4-14-2009 by Ord. No. 09-009]
COPPER MATERIALS
Any copper wire, bar, rod, pipe or tubing, including copper wire or cable or coaxial cable of the type used by public utilities, common carriers or communication services providers, whether wireless or wire line, copper air conditioner evaporator coil or condenser, copper or aluminum-copper radiator not attached to a motor vehicle, or any copper artwork, ornament, roofing or railing, whether composed of copper or alloys thereof, or any combination of these.
[Added 4-14-2009 by Ord. No. 09-009]
INDICIA OF LEGITIMATE ACQUISITION
Any receipt or other proof of prior purchase that is regular on its face, or any demolition permit, plumbing permit, electrical permit, or other permit that would entitle the legitimate replacement or removal of the item in question in a structure, or any valid and current contractor's license, including but not limited to that of a home improvement contractor licensed under N.J.S.A. 56:8-136 et seq., a plumber licensed under N.J.S.A. 45:14C-1 et seq., an electrician licensed under N.J.S.A. 45:5A-1 et seq., or a contractor licensed under Chapter 153 of this Code.[1]
[Added 4-14-2009 by Ord. No. 09-009]
JUNKYARD
Any yard, covered or uncovered, space or place in the City used for the purpose of sale, purchase, storage or exchange of rags, old metals, old bottles, old glassware, old tinware, old paper, old lumber, old plumbing fixtures, material from dismantled buildings, dismantled old automobiles or parts thereof, motor vehicle junk or any other old material commonly called "junk." "Junkyard," however, shall not be deemed to include a yard, space or place used for the storage of old material to be used for manufacturing purposes by the person storing the same.
MARKETABLE METAL OBJECTS
Any railroad track materials as defined in this chapter, copper materials as defined in this chapter, aluminum materials as defined in this chapter, and electrical, communications or utility brass, stainless steel sinks, catalytic converters not attached to a motor vehicle and metal beer kegs. Marketable metal objects does not include ferrous materials not listed in this section.
[Added 4-14-2009 by Ord. No. 09-009]
METAL ELECTRICAL WIRE
Any household or industrial metal electrical wiring, other than that used to transmit data or voice by telephone, computer, or similar device.
[Added 4-14-2009 by Ord. No. 09-009]
METAL GAS PIPE
Any segment of piping of the type commonly used for natural gas, whether made of copper, iron or any other metal.
[Added 4-14-2009 by Ord. No. 09-009]
METAL PLUMBING PIPE
Any segment of piping of the type commonly used for water supply, sewage or drainage, whether made of copper, iron or any other metal. Metal plumbing pipe shall not be deemed to include pipes or ducts of the type commonly used in heating, ventilation and air conditioning ("HVAC").
[Added 4-14-2009 by Ord. No. 09-009]
RAILROAD TRACK MATERIALS
Any rail, switch component, spike, angle bar, tie plate or bolt of the type used in constructing railroads.
[Added 4-14-2009 by Ord. No. 09-009]
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 153, Builders and Contractors.
No person shall have, conduct or engage in the business of keeping, operating or maintaining a junkyard without first obtaining a license therefor issued by the Licensing Division after approval thereof by the Council, in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.
An application for a junkyard license shall be made by the applicant, in writing, addressed to the Council on forms approved by the Council and furnished to the applicant at the office of the Licensing Division. The application shall be filed with the Licensing Division and shall be accompanied by the required license fee.
[Amended 4-19-1983 by Ord. No. 83-032]
A. 
The fee for each annual license shall be $1,250.
[Amended 12-2-2003 by Ord. No. 03-075; 11-9-2010 by Ord. No. 10-066; 10-9-2018 by Ord. No. 18-045]
B. 
The term of the license issued under this chapter shall be for one year from the date of its issuance.
A. 
Upon the filing of the application accompanied by the prescribed license fee, the Council shall fix a reasonable time for a public hearing to be held before it on the application, and the Licensing Division shall notify the applicant of the same.
B. 
The applicant for the license shall, at least five days prior to the time appointed for the public hearing on the application, give notice of such hearing, as provided in § 291-7, to all property owners within 200 feet of the property lines of the junkyard proposed to be licensed. At the hearing, the applicant and all interested persons shall have reasonable opportunity to be heard in person or by agent or by attorney. [1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Former Subsection C, regarding exception for requirement for public notice, which immediately following this subsection, was repealed 4-22-2003 by Ord. No. 03-020.
[Amended 6-27-1989 by Ord. No. 89-038]
A. 
Notice of a hearing requiring public notice pursuant to § 291-6B shall be given by:
(1) 
Serving a copy of said notice on the property owner as shown on the current tax duplicate, or his agent in charge of the property; or
(2) 
Mailing a copy thereof by certified mail to the property owner at his address as shown on the current tax list. Notice to a partnership owner may be made by service upon any partner. Notice to a corporate owner may be made by service upon its president, vice president, secretary or other person authorized by appointment or by law to accept service on behalf of the corporation. Notice to a condominium association, horizontal property regime, community trust or homeowners' association, because of its ownership of common elements or areas located within 200 feet of the property which is the subject of the license, may be made in the same manner as to a corporation without further notice to unit owners, co-owners or homeowners on account of such common elements or areas. The form of the notice shall include the name of the applicant, the location which is the subject of the license and the date and time of the hearing, if any, to be held before the City Council.
B. 
The applicant shall by affidavit present satisfactory proof to the Council, at least two days prior to the hearing, that said notices have been duly served.
[Amended 10-13-1987 by Ord. No. 87-032]
A. 
No junkyard license shall be granted after the effective date of this subsection unless and until the number of such licenses issued and outstanding shall be less than 10. When the number of junkyard licenses issued and outstanding shall be less than 10, additional licenses may be granted, but only in sufficient numbers so that the total number of junkyard licenses issued and outstanding will equal but not exceed 10.
[Amended 5-25-2004 by Ord. No. 04-040]
B. 
The provisions set forth in Subsection A of this section shall not apply to:
(1) 
The renewal of any junk shop license issued and outstanding as of April 3, 1950; or
(2) 
The transfer from person to person of any junkyard license issued and outstanding as of April 3, 1950, or the renewal of such transferred junkyard license.
A. 
No premises shall be licensed for a junkyard unless said premises conform to the provisions of the zoning ordinances of the City.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 483, Zoning and Land Development.
B. 
Except as otherwise provided in this section, no junkyard license shall be granted under this chapter to any person who has been convicted of the crime of receiving stolen goods, nor shall a license be issued to any corporation which includes as stockholder, director or officer a person who has been convicted of such crime.
C. 
If, at the time of the application, more than five years have elapsed since the date of such a conviction and it appears, to the satisfaction of the Council, that the convicted person has conducted himself in a law-abiding manner during that period and his association with the junk business will not be contrary to the public interest, the Council may, in its discretion, remove such person's disqualification from holding a license and grant the license.
Each person to whom a junkyard license is issued shall commence operation of the licensed premises within 60 days of the issuance of the license. Upon failure to comply with the provisions of this section, the license shall be subject to revocation or suspension unless good and sufficient reasons can be shown for such failure to comply. Before any action is taken by the Council, a notice shall be served upon the licensee at least five days prior to the date set for a hearing, and the licensee shall be given an opportunity to be heard either in person or through an attorney.
Each space or place licensed as a junkyard shall, during the entire license term, be entirely enclosed by a suitable enclosure of not less than eight feet in height which shall be constructed in such a manner that the interior of such yard and the contents thereof shall not be visible from public streets or highways facing said junkyard.
The premises licensed for a junkyard shall at all times be maintained in a safe manner with due regard for the public health and safety of persons and property in the vicinity in which the licensed premises are located.
No junkyard licensee shall keep or place or cause to be kept or placed any material on the sidewalk or street or any part thereof or on or above the aforementioned enclosure or between said enclosure and the sidewalk or between any building and the sidewalk.
[Amended 4-14-2009 by Ord. No. 09-009]
Every junkyard licensee under this chapter shall provide and keep a book on the licensed premises in which shall be written at the time of each purchase a description of the articles purchased, the name and residence of the person from whom the purchase was made and the date of purchase. Where a purchase of any kind of goods exceeds 100 pounds or $50, whichever is less, the book shall also contain a photocopy of proof of identification of the person from whom the purchase was made, in the form of a photographic identification card issued by any governmental entity or authority located in or within the United States or its territories. The book shall, at all reasonable times, be open to inspection by the Chief of Police or his representatives.
[Added 4-14-2009 by Ord. No. 09-009]
In addition to the purchase record book requirements of § 291-15 of this chapter, every junkyard licensee under this chapter, upon purchasing from a seller or group of sellers more than one segment of metal plumbing pipe, as defined in § 291-2 of this chapter, more than one segment of metal gas pipe, as defined in § 291-2 of this chapter, or any metal electrical wire, as defined in § 291-2 of this chapter, shall obtain from the seller indicia of legitimate acquisition, as defined in § 291-2 of this chapter, and retain a photocopy of the said evidence in or attached to the purchase record book.
[Added 4-14-2009 by Ord. No. 09-009]
A junkyard licensee who purchases a marketable metal object as defined in § 291-2 of this chapter, where the purchase of marketable metal objects exceeds 100 pounds or $50, whichever is less, shall keep each separate purchase in a separate and distinct pile, bundle or package, in the usual place of business of the licensee, without removing, melting, cutting or destroying any article thereof, for a period of three calendar days immediately succeeding such purchase, on which package, bundle or pile shall be placed and kept by such licensee a tag bearing the name and residence of the seller, with the date, hour and place of purchase, and the weight thereof.
The license issued under this chapter shall not be transferable from person to person except in accordance with the following procedure:
A. 
An applicant for a transfer to him of an existing license shall make application, in writing, addressed to the Council and filed with the City Clerk at least 10 days prior to the next meeting of the Council. The application shall be accompanied by the transfer fee of $50, which fee is imposed for revenue purposes. In the event that the transfer is not granted by the Council, said transfer fee shall be returned to the applicant.
B. 
The applicant for a transfer of license shall cause to be published once in a local newspaper, at least seven days prior to the meeting of the Council, a notice of his intention to apply for the transfer. Such newspaper notice shall specify the name and address of the present licensee, the location of the licensed premises and the date and time of said meeting of the Council.
C. 
The applicant for the transfer of license shall prove to the satisfaction of the Council that he is of good moral character.
In addition to the penalty prescribed in § 291-18 hereof, any license issued under this chapter may be suspended or revoked by the Council, after hearing, upon due notice, where an individual licensee or a stockholder, director or officer of a corporate licensee or a corporate licensee:
A. 
Has, during the term of the license, been convicted of the crime of receiving stolen goods; or
B. 
Violates any provision of this chapter.
[Amended 12-19-1995 by Ord. No. 95-068]
Any person who violates any provision of this chapter shall, upon conviction thereof, be punished by a fine not exceeding $1,000, by imprisonment for a term not exceeding 90 days or by a period of community service not exceeding 90 days, or any combination thereof. A separate offense shall be deemed committed on each day during or on which a violation occurs or continues.