[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee
of the Township of Pennsauken 9-27-1995 by Ord. No. 95-40; amended in its entirety 12-11-2013 by Ord. No.
2013:19. Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]
A.
The Township Committee hereby finds that there is a need to regulate
and control the buying, selling, advertising and/or solicitation of
gold, silver and precious or semiprecious gems or jewelry in order
to prevent the easy disposal of items which have been unlawfully obtained
as the result of crime while protecting and recognizing the legitimate
businesses which are engaged in the buying and selling of gold, silver
and precious or semiprecious gems or jewelry.
B.
The Township Committee hereby finds that there is a need to regulate
and control the buying and selling of other metals such as aluminum,
copper, magnesium and ferrous which have been unlawfully obtained
as the result of crime while protecting and recognizing the legitimate
businesses which are engaged in the buying and selling of such metals
in accordance with N.J.S.A. 45-28-1 et seq. and the rules and regulations
promulgated thereunder.
C.
The Township Committee hereby finds that there is a need to regulate
and control the buying, selling, advertising and/or solicitation of
gift cards and secondhand goods which have been unlawfully obtained
as the result of crime while protecting and recognizing the legitimate
businesses which are engaged in the buying and selling of such cards
and goods in accordance with N.J.S.A. 45:22-1 et seq. and the rules
and regulations promulgated thereunder.
For the purposes of this chapter, the following terms, phrases,
words and their derivations shall have the meanings ascribed herein.
Words used in the present tense shall include the future, words in
the plural number shall include the singular number and words in the
singular number shall include the plural number. The word "shall"
is always mandatory and not merely directory.
Acceptable forms of identification include: a current valid
photo New Jersey driver's license or New Jersey identification card,
a current valid photo driver's license issued by another U.S. state,
a valid United States passport, or other verifiable valid United States
government-issued photo identification with address. All of the above
listed acceptable identifications require the dealer to capture/record
evidence of the person's current address.
Any article of merchandise, including any portion of such
article, whether a distinct part thereof or not, including every part
thereof whether separable or not, and also including material for
manufacture. This term shall also include the definition of "article"
as the same appears in N.J.S.A. 51:6-1, as that statute may be amended
from time to time.
Any person, partnership, corporation, sole proprietorship,
association, or other entity, who or which, through any means, buys,
transfers or obtains from consignment articles made of or containing
gold, silver, precious or semiprecious metals or gems or jewelry,
other metals, or secondhand goods as defined in this chapter, and
includes anyone advertising the purchase or sale of any of the aforementioned
items.
The Chief of Police of the Township of Pennsauken or his
designee/representative.
A computerized Internet-capable database with hardware and
software compliant with standards set by the Chief of Police.
Any person, partnership, corporation, sole proprietorship,
association, or other entity, who or which, through any means, buys,
sells, transfers or obtains from consignment articles made of or containing
gold, silver, precious or semiprecious metals or gems or jewelry,
other metals, or secondhand goods as defined in this chapter and includes
anyone advertising or soliciting the purchase or sale of any of the
aforementioned items.
A person or entity who is appointed or designated by the
Chief of Police who is authorized to collect and maintain precious
metal transaction information or other purchase information as defined
herein, for the Township of Pennsauken.
Any person working for a buyer or dealer, whether or not
the person is in the direct employment of the buyer or dealer or works
full time or part time, who handles gold, silver, precious or semiprecious
metals or gems or jewelry, other metals, or secondhand goods for the
buyer or dealer. "Employee" shall not mean a person employed by a
bank, armored car company or other business entity acting in the sole
capacity of bailee-for-hire relationship with a buyer or dealer.
Any precious or semiprecious stone or item containing a precious
or semiprecious stone customarily used in jewelry or ornamentation.
Is a restricted monetary equivalent or scrip that is issued
by retailers or banks to be used as an alternative to a nonmonetary
gift.
Any article or product with a gold content, without regard
to the fineness thereof.
Any business conducted intermittently within the Township
of Pennsauken or at varying locations.
Any person under the age of 18 years.
Any item made of aluminum, copper, magnesium or other ferrous
metals.
A bailment of personal property as security for any debt
or engagement redeemable upon certain terms and with the implied power
of sale or default.
Any individual natural person, partnership, joint venture,
business, society, associate, club, trustee, trust, corporation, or
unincorporated group, or an officer, agent, employee, servant, factor
or any form of personal representative of any thereof, in any capacity,
acting for self or on behalf of another.
Comprised of gold, silver, sterling, platinum and/or their
alloys as defined in N.J.S.A. 51:5-1 et seq., N.J.S.A. 51:6-1 et seq.
and/or N.J.S.A. 51:6A-1 et seq.; gems, gemstones, coins and all forms
of jewelry herein contained. Not limited to those categories known
as "diamonds," "rubies," "pearls" and "sapphires" and commonly called
a "jewel."
Individuals and retail sellers, not to include wholesale
transactions or transactions between other merchants.
Includes any exchange of gold, silver, precious or semiprecious
metals or gems or jewelry, other metals, or secondhand goods as defined
in this chapter for anything of value. A purchase or payment need
not be made by way of money in order to constitute purchase for the
purposes of this chapter. For purposes of this chapter, a purchase
may include an exchange, deposit, pledge, conveyance or trade of any
tangible or intangible article.
Every transaction conducted by a dealer in which precious
metals, or other tangible property, are purchased from or exchanged
from with the public.
Any article previously sold, acquired, exchanged, conveyed,
traded or otherwise formerly owned, including but not limited to scrap
gold, old gold, silver, jewelry, home electronics/audio and visual
equipment, musical instruments, telephones and telephonic equipment,
scales, computers, computer hardware and software, typewriters, word
processors, scanners, sporting goods of all kinds, antiques, platinum,
all other precious metals, tools of all kinds, televisions, DVRs,
GPS, camcorders, car stereos, gift cards, furniture, clothing, collectibles
(for example, stamps, coins, comic book, sport memorabilia) other
valuable articles or as listed in Appendix I.[1]
Any person, partnership or corporation who or which, through
any means, sells, transfers or offers by consignment gold, silver,
precious or semiprecious metals or gems or jewelry or other metals
as defined in this chapter.
Any article or product with a silver content, without regard
to the fineness thereof.
A dealer who has not been in any retail business continuously
for at least six months at that address in the municipality where
the dealer is required to register or who intends to close out or
discontinue all retail business in the Township of Pennsauken within
six months. The term "transient buyer" will also include a dealer
who intends to close out or discontinue all retail business in the
Township of Pennsauken within six months, or as so defined in N.J.S.A.
51:6A-5 and N.J.A.C. 13:47C-1.1. Vendors doing business during a community
event sponsored or sanctioned by the Township of Pennsauken shall
not be considered a transient buyer for purposes of this chapter.
Any item containing gold or silver previously sold, traded
or transferred to a consumer for the personal use or enjoyment of
such consumer.
[1]
Editor's Note: Appendix I is included as an attachment to this chapter.
No buyer or dealer shall engage in a regulated activity, as
defined above, without having first obtained a license therefor from
the Township Clerk, which license shall bear a number issued by the
Township Clerk and shall be prominently displayed within the licensed
premises. The requirement of a license shall apply to the buyer and/or
dealer and to any individual employee who engages in a regulated activity
on behalf of a buyer or dealer. Hereinafter the term "licensee" shall
refer to a buyer, dealer, transient buyer, or to any individual employee
who engages in a regulated activity on behalf of a buyer or dealer.
At the time of filing the application for a license, a nonrefundable license fee of $200 shall be paid for the annual license for the premises where the activity is to be conducted, together with a fee of $100 for each person working under the premises license. Thereafter, the annual, nonrefundable renewal fee for the premises will be $200 and for each person working under the premises license, $100. Said license fee shall be in addition to any fee or cost associated with a dealer's obligation to comply with § 240-11 of this chapter mandating the electronic reporting of all transactions.
A licensed issued under the provisions of this chapter shall
not be transferable and shall terminate in December 31 of the year
in which said licensed is issued, unless it is renewed in accordance
with and pursuant to the provision of this chapter.
An application for a license shall be in writing on forms available
from the Township Clerk. The application form and pertinent information
required shall be developed by the Township of Pennsauken through
its Police Department, and the application shall be amended from time
to time as necessary in order to provide the necessary information
required by the Police Department to comply with the intent of this
chapter. The application shall provide the following information on
said application:
A.
Upon receipt of an application completed pursuant to this chapter,
the Clerk shall refer the application to the Chief of Police, who
shall fingerprint the applicant and institute such investigation of
the applicant's moral character and business responsibility as the
Chief of Police deems necessary for the protection of the public welfare.
In the event that the licensee is a business entity other than a sole
proprietorship, the officers in a corporation or the partners in a
partnership (or limited partnership) shall be deemed to be the applicant(s)
who shall be fingerprinted and investigated according to this chapter.
Upon completion of the investigation, the Chief of Police shall return
the application or a copy thereof to the Clerk, accompanied by a recommendation
as to whether the license should be issued or denied. Upon issuance
of the license, the Clerk shall give the applicant a copy of this
chapter.
B.
If the recommendation of the Chief of Police is to deny the license,
the grounds for the recommendation shall be stated in writing. Any
person aggrieved by such denial may file a written appeal to the Township
Committee through the Township Clerk within 15 days from the date
of denial. This appeal may be perfected by service of a notice of
appeal on the Township Clerk either personally or by certified mail.
The Township Committee shall conduct a hearing on an appeal within
30 days of the Township Clerk's receipt of the filing of a notice
of appeal, and a decision shall be rendered, in writing, on the appeal
within 20 days of the close of the hearing. The Township Committee
may confirm or reverse the denial as deemed advisable.
C.
As to any applicant for a license under this chapter, the Police
Department of the Township of Pennsauken shall, upon the initial application,
conduct a full state background investigation. The Chief of Police
shall report the results of such investigation to the Township Committee
as soon as possible. With respect to subsequent renewals of the license,
the Police Department shall conduct a background investigation by
applicant's name, social security number and date of birth for the
purpose of the annual renewal of said application.
A.
Any license may be revoked by Township Committee for any violation
of this chapter, in addition to any other penalty imposed for any
violation. Any license may be revoked if the licensee has failed to
pay any fee or charge properly imposed under the authority of this
chapter. Upon any violation, the Township Committee 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,
file with the Township Clerk a written request for a hearing on the
suspension before the Township Committee. 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 Township Committee 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.
B.
Licenses issued under the provisions of this chapter may be revoked by Township Committee, after a hearing and upon notice to the applicant, as set forth in Subsection A above, for any of the following reasons:
(1)
Fraud, misrepresentation or false statement in the application for
license.
(2)
Fraud, misrepresentation or false statement made in the course of
carrying on the regulated activity of this chapter.
(3)
Any violation of this chapter, including but not limited to:
(a)
Failure by the licensee to enter all transaction information set forth in § 240-11B(1) through (8) into the database within 24 hours after purchase, receiving for pawn, or receiving for consignment, any property, precious metals, metals, or secondhand goods as defined in § 240-2 or as described in Appendix I,[1] from the public.
[1]
Editor's Note: Appendix I is included as an attachment to this chapter.
(b)
Failure by the licensee to properly maintain computer equipment in a reasonable fashion or failure by the licensee to replace faulty computer equipment such as is required under § 240-11C.
(c)
Failure by the licensee to admit to the premises during business hours any member of the Pennsauken Police Department or other sworn law enforcement officer acting in the performance of their duty or to permit such officer(s) to conduct an inspection or review of records or regulated activity in accordance with § 240-11E.
(4)
Conviction of any crime.
(5)
Conviction of any disorderly persons offense involving moral turpitude.
(7)
Conducting the regulated activity in an unlawful manner or in such
a manner as to constitute a breach of the peace or to constitute a
menace to the health, safety and general welfare of the public.
No licensee shall, by virtue of one license, keep more than
one place of business for receiving or taking goods.
No licensee shall, at any time, do business at any place other
than the place of business for which the license was granted.
Every licensee within the Township of Pennsauken shall, upon the purchase, receiving for pawn, or receiving for consignment, any property, precious metals, other metals, or secondhand goods as defined in § 240-2 or as described in Appendix I,[1] from the public, shall be required to do as follows:
A.
Record using a unique transaction number on a numbered receipt the name, address and telephone number of the purchaser; the name, address and telephone number of the seller or sellers; the time and date of the transaction; the net weight in terms of pounds Troy, pennyweight (Troy) or kilograms/grams of the precious metals; fineness in terms of karats for gold, and sterling or coin for silver, in accordance with N.J.S.A. 51:5-1 et seq. and N.J.S.A. 51:6-1 et seq.; and any property containing a serial number. This information is to be documented through use of an electronic database software system as designated by the Chief of Police the information listed in § 240-11B(1) through (8). These records shall be subject to the inspection of any authorized police officer or any sworn law enforcement officer acting in the performance of their duty as set forth in Subsection E below.
(1)
A dealer shall be responsible for any and all costs associated with
purchasing, maintaining and updating the electronic database software
system, as well as any annual licensing or subscription fees. Said
licensing and/or subscription fees associated with the electronic
database software system shall be in addition to any other fees or
costs required under this chapter.
B.
Through the use of applicably required computer equipment, and using the electronic format approved by the Chief of Police, every dealer shall enter all transactions into the electronic database within 24 hours from the date of purchase or receipt of property for pawn, or consignment. The information entered will contain the information in Subsection A above, plus the following:
(1)
The name, address, date of birth, telephone number and acceptable
identification number of the seller;
(2)
The receipt number;
(3)
A full description of the item or items purchased, or pawned by the
seller, including but not limited to marks, numbers, dates, sizes,
shapes, initials, monograms and serial numbers, face value and identifying
numbers of gift cards;
(4)
The price paid for the item and the method of payment (such as, cash,
check, trade, etc.);
(5)
The form must be signed by the seller;
(6)
The form must be legible bearing the name of the clerk or the dealer
who made the transaction so as to readily identify that individual;
(7)
A color photograph or color image of the seller's presented acceptable
identification; and
(8)
A color photograph or color image of all items sold. When photographing
or imaging all items must be positioned in a manner that makes them
readily and easily identifiable.
C.
In the event of a database failure, or dealer's computer equipment malfunction, all transaction information is required to be submitted on paper forms approved by the Chief of Police within 24 hours from the date of purchase. In the event that paper forms are used, the dealer is responsible to enter all transaction information set forth in § 240-11B(1) through (8) into the database as soon as possible upon the dealer's equipment being repaired or replaced, of the database coming back into service. Failure by the dealer to properly maintain computer equipment in a reasonable fashion, or failure by the dealer to replace faulty computer equipment, may result in the dealer being cited for a violation of the ordinance and subsequently being subject to the penalties for doing so including revocation of the dealer's license under § 240-8.
D.
Dealer payment to sellers in cash shall be limited to two transactions
during a seven-day period for the same seller. The seven-day period
will commence on the day of the first transaction and end seven days
after the transaction, i.e. if transaction No. 1 occurs on Monday,
the seven-day period ends on Sunday. Furthermore, no cash payments
shall be made to the same sellers who make more than five transactions
in any given thirty-day period. Sellers making transactions over the
number of proscribed weekly and monthly periods will be paid by the
dealer by means of a bank check drawn from the dealer's business account.
E.
It shall be the requisite duty of every dealer, and of every person in the dealer's employ, to admit to the premises during business hours any member of the Pennsauken Police Department or other sworn law enforcement officer acting in the performance of their duty to examine any database, book, ledger, or any other record on the premises relating to the purchase, receiving for pawn, or receiving for consignment, any property, precious metals, other metals, or secondhand goods as defined in § 240-2 or as described in Appendix I,[2] from the public. Pennsauken Police Officers or other law
enforcement officers acting in the performance of their duty are empowered
to take possession of any article known by the police officer or official
to be missing or to have been stolen, or where the officer or official
has reasonable suspicion to believe the article is missing or stolen.
A receipt will be provided to the dealer for any property seized by
the Pennsauken Police Department or other law enforcement officer.
[2]
Editor's Note: Appendix I is included as an attachment to this chapter.
[1]
Editor's Note: Appendix I is included as an attachment to this chapter.
A licensee shall not engage in regulated activity with 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. A licensee shall not engage in regulated
activity with any individual who is in an intoxicated state and/or
is under the influence of intoxicating liquor, narcotics or hallucinogenic
or habit-producing drugs.
All property purchased, received for pawn, or received for consignment, precious metals, other metals, or secondhand goods as defined in § 240-1 or as described in Appendix I,[1] from the public, are to be made available for inspection by the Chief of Police or any member of the Pennsauken Police Department or other law enforcement officer acting in the performance of their duty for a period of 15 days from the date the transaction information is reported to the Chief of Police in accordance with § 240-11 above. All property, precious metals, other metals, secondhand goods as defined in § 240-2 or as described in Appendix I shall remain in the same condition as when purchased and shall not be sold or disposed of, changed, modified, or melted by the purchaser until the fifteen-day retention period has expired. During this fifteen-day retention period, all property, precious metals, other metals, secondhand goods as defined in § 240-2 or as described in Appendix I shall be placed in public view at the licensed location where the transaction occurred between licensee and seller.
[1]
Editor's Note: Appendix I is included as an attachment to this chapter.
A.
Every applicant shall file with the Township Clerk a good and sufficient surety bond, to be approved by the Township Solicitor, in the amount of $10,000 for each license sought, executed by a surety company authorized and qualified to do business in the State of New Jersey. The bond shall run to the Township of Pennsauken for the benefit of any person or persons, injured by any wrongful act, default, fraud or misrepresentation of any violation of this chapter. Said bond shall contain the following language: "The obligation of this bond shall, in addition to the Township of Pennsauken, be and remain for the benefit of any person or persons who shall obtain a judgment against obligor, as a result of damage sustained in operation pursuant to any license granted under Chapter 240 of the Code of Township of Pennsauken."
B.
The surety bond shall be kept for a minimum of one year from the
date of issuance of license and must be renewed annually along with
the license. The bond shall not be cancelled for any cause unless
a notice of intention to cancel is filed at least 30 days before the
requested cancellation date with the Township Clerk with copy of the
notice of intention mailed to the Township Solicitor. The bond shall
contain such a provision. The requirement of this chapter for obtaining
a surety bond is in addition to any obligation imposed by the State
of New Jersey upon a transient buyer of precious metals, pursuant
to N.J.A.C. 13:47C-6.1.
A.
This chapter shall not apply to purchases made by dealers from wholesalers or other legitimate suppliers, but shall only apply to those purchases made from the public which includes other retailer sellers as defined in § 240-2. The dealer shall keep records of all wholesale purchases for a period of six months from the date of such purchase, which records shall be opened to investigation by the Pennsauken Police Department of any sworn law enforcement officer in the performance of their duties.
B.
The following are exempt from the requirements of this chapter:
(1)
Garage sales: As used in this section, a garage sale is defined as
the sale of used personal property by the lawful residents of residentially
zoned property that is not conducted on a periodic or ongoing basis.
A garage sale shall be deemed to be periodic or ongoing if a garage
sale is held by the lawful resident of residentially zoned property
more than five days in any consecutive ninety-day period;
(2)
Sales conducted by governmental, civic, patriotic, fraternal, educational,
religious or benevolent organizations which have been in active and
continuous existence for at least one year prior to the holding of
the sale, or which are incorporated as a not-for-profit corporation
by the state;
(3)
Sales or purchases which are regulated by the licensing laws of the
State of New Jersey, including automobile dealers, used parts dealers
and automotive parts recyclers;
(4)
Antique dealers: As used in this section, an antique dealer is defined
as one who derives 75% of his/her gross sales each year from the sale
of antiques and/or primitives. As used in this section, an antique
or primitive is defined as an old and valuable art object or article
no longer in production that is at least 50 years old. As used in
this section, the term "sale" does not include an exchange, trade,
or swap of items.
Any person, as defined above, who violates any provision of
this chapter shall, upon conviction thereof, be subject to one or
more of the following a fine not exceeding $1,250 or imprisonment
in the county jail for a term not exceeding 90 days, or a period of
community service not exceeding 90 days, within the discretion of
the Municipal Judge. A separate offense shall be deemed committed
in each day during or on which a violation occurs or continues.
A.
Repealer. All ordinances or parts of ordinances inconsistent or in
conflict with this chapter are hereby repealed as to said inconsistencies
and conflicts.
B.
Severability. If any section, paragraph, subdivision, clause or provision
of this chapter shall be adjudged invalid or unconstitutional by a
court of competent jurisdiction, the order or judgment shall not affect
or invalidate the remainder of any section, paragraph, subdivision,
clause or provision of this chapter and, to this end, the remainder
of this chapter shall be deemed valid and effective.
C.
Effective date. This chapter shall take effect immediately upon passage
and publication according to law.
