No pawnbroker shall operate in the Town of Abington unless licensed
to do so by the Board of Selectmen. The Board of Selectmen is hereby
authorized to adopt policies governing the licensing process for pawnbrokers.
Any person licensed as a pawnbroker shall hold all items taken
in for a minimum of 60 days before the resale, trade, melting, changing
the appearance of or any other means of disposing an item. Audit sheets
shall be submitted to the Chief of Police or his designee on a weekly
basis with record of all transactions including the date of sale,
amount, seller's name and address, date of birth, driver's
license or other number provided on picture identification issued
by an authorized governmental agency and an itemized list and description
of each article.
Any person licensed as a pawnbroker shall, if it is determined
that any goods, article or other item taken into possession are stolen
property, or if the rightful owner of property identifies the same
and the property is confirmed by a member of the Abington Police Department
to be stolen, the property shall be immediately returned to the rightful
owner at no cost to such owner.
Complaints concerning a licensed or unlicensed pawnbroker shall
be made to and may be investigated by the Chief of Police or the Chief's
designee. Upon determination of a violation, the Board of Selectmen
shall serve notice by certified mail or in hand as to the date, time
and place of hearing along with a statement of the reasons. The Board
of Selectmen, Police Chief or their respective designee may suspend
or revoke a pawnbroker's license without hearing if public health
and/or safety so require. In such circumstances, the Board of Selectmen
shall forthwith give notice of the suspension or revocation and serve
the pawnbroker by certified mail or in hand with notice of the opportunity
for a hearing.
This Bylaw shall be enforced in accordance with the provisions of §§
1-1 and
1-2 of the Town Bylaws. In addition, offenses that may result in suspension or revocation of a license include but are not limited to the following:
A. Violation of any provision of the license agreement;
B. Violation of any provision of the statutes regulating pawnbrokers;
C. Violation of any provision of any other statute or of this Bylaw,
including providing incorrect information on a license application.