No person shall carry on the business of a pawnbroker unless he is duly licensed therefor by the City Council.
Every pawnbroker doing business in this City shall keep a book in which shall be written, at the time of receiving any article as a pawn or pledge, a description of the article, and the name, age and residence of the person from whom and the day and hour when he received it, and such book shall at all times be open for the inspection of the City Council, or any person authorized by it to make such inspection, and to members of the police force.
No person licensed under the provisions of this article shall, directly or indirectly, receive any article in pawn from any minor, knowing or having reasonable cause to believe him to be such.
[Amended 9-27-2022 by Ord. No. 2022-20]
All articles received in pawn may be examined by the City Council, or any person authorized by them to make such examination, or by any member of the police force, at all times.
All licenses granted under this article shall designate the place where the person licensed may carry on his business, and he shall not engage in or carry on his business in any place other than the one so designated.
Every licensed pawnbroker shall make out and deliver to the Chief of Police every day, Sundays and holidays excepted, before the hour of 10:00 a.m., a legible and correct list containing an accurate description of all articles taken during the preceding 24 hours, the amount loaned thereon, and the time such articles were pawned.
[Amended 2-13-2003 by Ord. No. 2003-3; 9-22-2009 by Ord. No. 2009-29]
A. 
Licensed pawnbrokers may charge the following rate of interest:
(1) 
For loans up to and including $25, no more than 3% a month (and each fraction thereof at the same rate).
(2) 
For loans over $25, no more than 3% a month (and each fraction thereof at the same rate).
B. 
No such pawnbroker shall charge or receive any greater amount of interest, and interest shall be determined on the precise sum advanced by the lender.
C. 
No pawnbroker shall make or receive any extra fee for the storage, care or safe-keeping of any goods, or thing pawned with him/her.
[Amended 2-13-2003 by Ord. No. 2003-3]
A. 
Articles deposited in pawn with a licensed pawnbroker shall, unless redeemed, be retained by said pawnbroker on the premises occupied and licensed for said business for at least four months after the date of deposit.
B. 
After expiration of the applicable period of time the licensee may sell the article by public auction, apply the proceeds thereof in satisfaction of the debt or demand and the expense of the notice or sale, and pay any surplus to the person entitled thereto on demand.
C. 
No such sale of any article which is not of a perishable nature shall be made unless, not less than 10 days prior to the sale, a written notice of the intended sale shall have been sent by registered mail to the person entitled to the payment of any surplus as aforesaid, addressed to his residence, as appearing in the records of such pawnbroker. Proof of registered mail shall be kept on file for one year after the date of sale.
D. 
No article taken in pawn shall be disposed of otherwise than as above provided, any agreement or contract between the parties thereto to the contrary notwithstanding.
E. 
Articles of personal apparel shall not be deemed to be of a perishable nature within the meaning of this section.
[Amended 2-13-2003 by Ord. No. 2003-3]
A. 
No pawnbroker shall loan money secured by deposit or pledge of a firearm, rifle, shotgun or machine gun. (MGL c. 140, § 131B)
B. 
No pawnbroker shall hold a license to sell, rent or lease a firearm, rifles, shotguns or machine guns.