The following definitions shall apply to terms used within this
chapter unless the context requires otherwise:
BUYER
Any person, partnership, corporation or entity of whatsoever
who, through any means, buys, transfers or obtains from consignment
gold, silver, precious or semiprecious metals or gems or other metals,
as defined in this chapter.
DEALER
A.
Any person, partnership, corporation or entity of whatsoever
who, through any means, buys, sells, transfers or obtains from consignment
gold, silver, precious or semiprecious metals or gems or other metals
as defined in this chapter and includes anyone advertising the purchase
or sale of any of the aforementioned items.
B.
Any person or business entity which possesses a junkyard license,
under separate ordinance, shall be exempted from this license.
GOLD
Any article or product with a gold content, without regard
to the fineness thereof.
MINOR
Any person under the age of 18 years.
OTHER METALS
Any item made of aluminum, copper, magnesium or other ferrous
metals.
PRECIOUS OR SEMIPRECIOUS GEM
Is not limited to those categories known as "diamonds," "rubies,"
"pearls" and "sapphires" and is commonly called a "jewel."
PURCHASE
Includes any exchange of gold, silver or any precious or
semiprecious gem or other metals as defined in this chapter for anything
of value. A payment need not be made by way of money in order to constitute
purchase for the purposes of this chapter.
REGULATED ACTIVITY
The purchase or sale of silver and precious metals or gems
and any metals which possess monetary economic value of any sum whether
said items are passing lawfully in commerce, but especially any items
which may have been unlawfully obtained.
SELLER
Any person, partnership or corporation who, through any means,
sells, transfers or offers by consignment gold, silver, precious or
semiprecious metals or gems or other metals, as defined in this chapter.
SILVER
Any article or product with a silver content, without regard
to the fineness thereof.
No person shall engage in a regulated activity, as defined above,
without having first obtained a license therefore from the Division
of License and Inspections, which license shall bear a number issued
by the Division of License and Inspections and shall be prominently
displayed within the licensed premises. The requirement of a license
shall apply to the business entity and to any individual employee
who engages in a regulated activity on behalf of a business entity.
Each license shall be issued from January 1st to December 31st.
An application for a license shall be in writing on forms available
from the Division of License and Inspections. The application forms
and pertinent information required shall be developed by the City
of Camden through the Department of Police and the application shall
be amended from time to time as necessary in order to provide the
necessary information required by the Department of Police to comply
with the intent of this chapter.
Upon receipt of any application completed pursuant to this chapter,
the Division of License and Inspections shall refer the application
to the Police Chief, who shall institute such investigation of the
applicant's moral character and business responsibility as he/she
deems necessary for the protection of the public welfare. Upon completion
of the investigation, which in no case shall take more than 30 days,
the Police Chief shall return the application or a copy thereof to
the Division of License and Inspections accompanied by his/her recommendation
as to whether the license should be issued or denied. If the recommendation
of the Police Chief is to deny the license, the grounds for the recommendation
shall be stated. Any person aggrieved by such denial may file a written
appeal to the City Council through the Municipal Clerk. The City Council
may confirm or reverse the denial as deemed advisable.
Any license may be revoked for any violation of this chapter,
in addition to any other penalty imposed for any violation. Upon any
violation, the City Council may suspend a license upon written notice
to the license holder. Upon receipt of the notice of suspension, the
license holder may, within 10 days, request a hearing on the suspension
before the City Council. The hearing shall be held within 30 days
of the request at which hearing the license holder shall have the
opportunity to be heard. At the conclusion of the hearing, the City
Council shall either revoke the license or shall reinstate the license.
In the event that the license holder shall not request a hearing,
the license shall be automatically revoked upon the expiration of
10 days after the notice of suspension has been given to the license
holder.
No person licensed as a dealer in the City of Camden shall,
by virtue of one license, keep more than one place of business for
receiving or taking goods.
No dealer shall, at any time, do business at any place other
than the place for which the license was granted.
A licensee shall not accept or buy any gold, silver, precious
or semiprecious gem from any person under the age of 18 years, unless
such minor is accompanied by a parent or guardian and said parent
or guardian gives specific written consent to the transaction and
acknowledges the receipt required by the buyer to be given to the
seller.
No dealers shall sell any article until the same has been in
their possession at least 15 days.
[Amended 10-12-2006 by Ord. No. MC-4234]
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.