[HISTORY: Adopted by the City Council of the City of Camden 4-9-1987 by Ord. No. MC-2289 as Ch. 320 of the 1987 Code; amended in its entirety 11-24-1982 by Ord. No. MC-1910. Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
JUNKYARD
Any location, place or space, whether covered or uncovered, used for the sale, purchase, exchange, display or storage of scrap or junk materials or articles commonly called "junk," including but not limited to old paper, old cardboard, old metal or metal products such as old iron, brass, copper, tin, lead and other metals, old rags, old rope, old wire, old bottles, old glassware, old household fixtures or appliances, old motor vehicles and other abandoned or nonusable vehicles. In any instance where a particular business sells or offers for sale any of such articles both for salvage and/or for the purpose for which such articles were originally manufactured, any location on or from which such business is conducted shall be construed to be a junkyard.
JUNKYARD KEEPER or JUNK DEALER
A person who keeps, maintains or operates a junkyard in the City.
MOTOR VEHICLE SALVAGE YARD
Any location, place or space, whether covered or uncovered, used for the purpose of storing, demolishing, wrecking or salvaging of inoperable motor vehicles and parts thereof. In any instance where a particular business sells or offers for sale any of such articles both for salvage and/or for the purpose for which such articles were originally manufactured, any location on or from which such business is conducted shall be construed to be a "motor vehicle salvage yard."
VEHICLE
Any cart, wagon, truck or other vehicle.
In addition to the general provisions of § 485-24, no license or renewal thereof shall be granted under this chapter:
A. 
If the applicant has been a habitual violator of the provisions of this chapter or if the applicant has been convicted of the crime of larceny or of receiving stolen property. As used in this subsection, the term "applicant" shall include each partner and each stockholder, director or officer of the corporate applicant.
B. 
If the premises to be licensed as a junkyard, junk dealer or the premises to be licensed as a motor vehicle salvage yard do not conform to the provisions of the Zoning Ordinance of the City.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: For the Zoning Ordinance, see Ch. 870.
C. 
If the storage of junk and/or inoperable motor vehicles at the proposed lands and premises of the applicant would constitute a fire or safety hazard.
D. 
If the applicant has not complied with the fencing requirements of § 467-13 of this Code or other applicable provisions of this chapter deemed essential for the protection of the health, safety and welfare of the public.
E. 
If there is reason to believe that the granting of the license and the operation and conduct of the proposed licensed business will result in violations of the New Jersey Uniform Construction Code, the New Jersey Uniform Fire Code or other ordinances of the City.
[Amended 4-9-1987 by Ord. No. MC-2289]
[Added 1-26-1984 by Ord. No. MC-2007]
Any licensee under this chapter who shall participate in the Mayor's Recycling Program, a joint venture of the City of Camden and the State of New Jersey, and who shall be certified by the Director of Public Works to the Director of the Division of Inspections, shall be entitled to a rebate of the licensing fee for the business or occupation under this section of $200 for the year 1983 and a rebate in each succeeding year wherein said licensee participates in the Mayor's Recycling Program. Said certification shall be made by the Director of Public Works and forwarded to the Director of the Division of Inspections at the end of the year of participation.
Every applicant for a license under this chapter shall provide a description of the premises, including a legal description of said lands or premises thereon, accompanied by a map or sketch according to scale and certified by a licensed engineer or architect, showing the premises sought to be licensed, the existing or proposed buildings and fences and their location, the size, height and entrances of all buildings, the type of construction of buildings and a description of the equipment.
A. 
Every licensee hereunder shall be entitled to keep one vehicle for the purpose of collecting the junk articles mentioned in § 467-1; provided, however, that if said licensee desires to keep more than one vehicle, he shall first apply to the Division of Inspections for such privilege and shall pay the sum of $10 for each additional vehicle.
[Amended 12-8-1983 by Ord. No. MC-1994]
B. 
Any licensee using such vehicle shall cause to be painted on the outside of such vehicle the name of the licensee in full and the address of the licensee's place of business in plain letters. Each letter shall not be less than 2 1/2 inches high. Each such licensee shall also attach inside of every such vehicle a metal or plastic tag bearing the number of his license, which tag shall be furnished by the Division of Inspections.
[Amended 12-8-1983 by Ord. No. MC-1994]
C. 
Every person engaged in using any such vehicle for the purpose of collecting junk articles as aforesaid shall, at all times, carry with him, when so engaged, the license issued for said vehicle and shall exhibit the said license and the contents of the vehicle, on demand, to any police officer or other official of the City.
A. 
The license issued hereunder shall contain a description of the lands or premises on which any junkyard or motor vehicle salvage yard operation may be carried on.
B. 
No license issued hereunder shall entitle the licensee to operate thereunder at, in or on any lot, building or location other than that which is specified in said license. A separate license shall be required for each lot, building or location separated by City streets, public roads, public alleys or lands not specifically used for the purpose as set forth in this chapter.
C. 
The license issued hereunder shall not be transferable to any other location, nor shall said license be assignable, transferable or divisible in any manner.
No licensee hereunder shall receive in the line of his business any article or thing by way of pledge or pawn, nor shall he advance any sum of money on the security of any such article or thing.
A. 
Every keeper of a junkyard licensed under this chapter shall provide and keep a book in which shall be written at the time of each purchase:
(1) 
A reasonable description of the article or articles purchased.
(2) 
The name and address of the person from whom such purchase was made.
(3) 
The day of such purchase.
(4) 
The consideration paid therefor.
B. 
In addition to the records required to be maintained hereunder, the junk dealer shall also record the license number of the motor vehicle delivering recyclable material to the junk dealer's premises.
[Added 6-25-1998 by Ord. No. MC-3397[1]]
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance also repealed former § 320-10B, as amended, previously codified herein, which contained exceptions to recordkeeping requirements and stated that the book shall be open to inspection.
A. 
Any licensee who shall receive or have in his possession any goods, articles or things which may have been lost or stolen shall immediately make a written report thereof to the office of the Chief of Police, setting forth a description of the article and the name of the person from whom received.
B. 
Upon demand, the licensee shall exhibit such reported article to the Chief of Police or other members of the Police Department of the City.
[Amended 12-10-2019 by Ord. No. MC-5232]
No scrap or junk referred to or itemized in § 467-1 of this chapter shall be kept on any sidewalk in the City or in front of the place of business conducted by the licensee under this chapter.
[1]
Editor's Note: For related provisions, see Ch. 735, Streets and Sidewalks.
A. 
Any junkyard or motor vehicle salvage yard which may be conducted on any open lot in the City shall have said lot fenced in by a fence at least seven feet high, so constructed as will keep within its bounds the contents of such lot or open space.
B. 
The fence shall be of uniform, noncombustible construction. That portion of such fence which faces any public street, highway of open lands or buildings not belonging to the licensee shall also be of solid, rigid construction preventing a view of the interior of such junkyard or motor vehicle salvage yard. Cyclone fencing, existing as of August 8, 1963, and satisfying the height requirements of Subsection A of this section, may serve as a foundation for the attachment of a uniform material satisfying the requirements for a fence of solid, uniform construction prohibiting a view of the interior.
Under no circumstances shall any of the contents of any junkyard or motor vehicle salvage yard be piled or stacked to a height in excess of the height of the fence specified in § 467-13, unless such pile or stack shall be set back from the closest portion of such fence a distance equal to the height of such pile or stack.
All junkyard and motor vehicle salvage yard premises licensed under this chapter shall be kept free of noxious odors and vermin, insects and rats, shall not be permitted to become overgrown with weeds or other wild vegetation and shall, at all times, be kept in such condition as will not endanger the public health.
All bottles shall be washed immediately upon receipt thereof and shall be stored bottom-side up.
No person operating or conducting a junkyard shall receive or purchase, in connection with the junkyard business, any goods, articles or things from any person whatsoever between the hours of 7:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.
[Added 4-9-1987 by Ord. No. MC-2289]
It shall be unlawful for any person, as defined in § 485-1, to engage in the activity identified and regulated by this chapter, without first having obtained a license therefor and paid the fee required for such license, both as provided in Chapter 485, Licenses and Business Regulations. Any person engaging in such activity who shall fail to comply with any provision of this chapter or of Chapter 485 shall be in violation of the provisions of this chapter.
[Added 4-9-1987 by Ord. No. MC-2289]
A. 
Unless otherwise provided in the chapter, penalties against persons violating the provisions of this chapter shall be imposed in accordance with the provisions of § 1-15.
[Amended 6-25-1998 by Ord. No. MC-3397; 10-12-2006 by Ord. No. MC-4234]
B. 
A separate offense shall be deemed committed on each and every day for each and every violation of this chapter.
C. 
A separate offense shall be deemed committed on each day during or on which a violation or violations occur or continue.
D. 
The imposition of a fine or imprisonment as punishment for a violation of any provision of this chapter shall not be deemed to be in lieu of any provision of this chapter or of Chapter 485 providing for revocation or suspension of any license issued under this chapter and Chapter 485.
[Added 5-23-1991 by Ord. No. MC-2658]
A. 
It is unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to abandon any motor vehicle or render it inutile upon City streets, sidewalks or adjoining land.
B. 
It is unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to disassemble, dismantle, strip or destroy any motor vehicle upon City streets or sidewalks.
C. 
It is unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to spill or discharge any oil, gasoline or grease on City sidewalks, streets or adjoining land.
[Added 6-25-1998 by Ord. No. MC-3397]
A. 
No junk dealer shall purchase or accept possession of any recyclable material unless such material is delivered to the junk dealer's premises in a lawfully registered motor vehicle; provided, however, that nothing contained herein shall prevent the junk dealer from accepting delivery of said materials at the premises of the owner of said material or a bona fide construction site.
B. 
No junk dealer shall purchase or take possession of:
(1) 
Any recyclable building materials, including but not limited to metal pipes, wire, siding, doors and window frames, bricks, stones, lumber or shingles except when those items are received from the owner of the premises from which they originate or from a licensed construction contractor or subcontractor. For the purpose of this section, "licensed contractor or subcontractor" shall include carpenters, plumbers, electricians, bricklayers, stone masons and similar trades.
(2) 
Any complete or part of a storm drain, manhole assembly and cover, traffic light standard, road sign, road or bridge railing or other item primarily designed for use in connection with a road or highway except from a government agency, a public utility or their authorized agent.