[HISTORY: Adopted by the Mayor and Council of the Borough
of Rockaway 9-14-2017 by Ord. No.
14-17. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Scrap metal dealers — See Ch. 206.
The purpose and intent of this chapter is to assist law enforcement
officials and victims of crime in recovering stolen precious metals
and other secondhand goods by requiring minimum identification, reporting,
maintenance and distribution criteria for licensed dealers in these
goods.
No person shall use, exercise, or carry on the business, trade,
or occupation of the buying, selling, or pawning of precious metals
or other secondhand goods without complying with the requirements
of this chapter in the exact manner described herein.
A current, valid New Jersey driver's license or identification
card; a current, valid photo driver's license issued by another United
States state; a valid United States passport; or other verifiable
United States government issued identification, which will be recorded
on the receipt retained by the dealer and subsequently forwarded to
the local police department on request.
Any person, partnership, limited-liability company, corporation,
or other entity who, either wholly or in part, engages in or operates
any of the following trades or businesses: the buying for purposes
of resale of precious metals, jewelry, or other secondhand goods,
as defined herein; pawnbrokers, as defined herein; itinerant businesses,
as defined herein. For the purposes of this chapter, transient buyers,
as defined herein, are subject to the same licensing and reporting
requirements as any other dealers.
A dealer who conducts business intermittently within the
municipality or at varying locations.
Any person, partnership, association or corporation lending
money on deposit or pledge of personal property, other than chose
in action, securities, or printed evidences of indebtedness; purchasing
personal property on condition of selling it back at a stipulated
price; or doing business as furniture storage warehousemen and lending
money on goods, wares or merchandise pledged or deposited as collateral
security.
Gold, silver, platinum, palladium, and their alloys as defined
in N.J.S.A. 51:5-1 et seq. and N.J.S.A. 51:6-1 et seq.
Individuals and retail sellers, not to include wholesale
transactions or transactions between other merchants.
Every transaction conducted between a dealer and a member
of the public in which precious metals, jewelry, or any other secondhand
goods, as defined herein, are purchased or pawned.
Used goods, such as antiques, gold, silver, platinum, or
other precious metals, jewelry, coins, gemstones, gift cards, any
tools, telephones, typewriters, word processors, GPS devices, computers,
computer hardware and software, television sets, radios, record or
stereo sets, electronic devices, musical instruments, sporting goods,
automotive equipment, collectibles, game cartridges, DVDs, CDs, and
other electronically recorded material, firearms, cameras and camera
equipment, video equipment, furniture, clothing, and other valuable
articles. For the purposes of this chapter, secondhand goods shall
not include goods transacted in the following manner: judicial sales
or sales by executors or administrators; occasional or auction sales
of household goods sold from private homes; auctions of real estate;
or the occasional sale, purchase, or exchange of coins or stamps by
a person at his permanent residence or in any municipally owned building
who is engaged in the hobby of collecting coins or stamps and who
does not solicit the sale, purchase, or exchange of such coins or
stamps to or from the general public by billboard, sign, handbill,
newspaper, magazine, radio, television, or other form of printed or
electronic advertising.
A member of the public who sells or pawns used goods, such
as precious metal, jewelry, or other secondhand goods, to a dealer.
A dealer, as defined herein, who has not been in a registered
retail business continuously for at least six months at any address
in the municipality where the dealer is required to register or who
intends to close out or discontinue all retail business within six
months.
No person, partnership, limited-liability company, corporation, or other entity shall engage in the business of buying, selling, or pawning of precious metals or other secondhand goods, as defined above, within the jurisdiction of the municipality without having first obtained a license therefor from the Borough Clerk, which license shall bear a number issued by the Borough Clerk. The application for a license to the Borough Clerk shall set forth the name, date of birth, and address of the dealer, whether or not he or she is a citizen of the United States, and whether or not he or she has ever been convicted of any crime(s), disorderly persons offense(s), or municipal ordinance violation(s), and the date(s) thereof. Advertising in any print or electronic media or by sign that any of those articles or secondhand goods referred to in § 195-2 above are being bought in any location within the municipality shall constitute engaging in business as a dealer of secondhand goods for purposes of this chapter. No person, partnership, limited-liability company, corporation or other entity shall place or cause to be placed any advertisement for purchase of such articles or goods without stating in the advertising the license number issued to a person or entity by the municipality. In any print advertisement, the license number shall appear in type no smaller than eight points in the lower right-hand corner of the advertisement. In any advertisement in electronic media, the license number shall be visually or audibly stated. Failure to state or indicate the license number shall be a violation of this chapter and shall be subject to the penalties established in § 195-9.
A.
Upon receipt
of an application completed pursuant to this chapter, the Borough
Clerk shall refer such application to the Chief of Police, who shall
make an investigation of the prospective licensee pursuant to this
chapter for the purpose of determining the suitability of the applicant
for licensing. The investigation shall include, but shall not be limited
to the following:
(1)
The experience of the applicant in the business of purchase and sale of those articles or goods referred to in § 195-2 above, although nothing in this section shall be construed to warrant denial of a license solely on the basis of lack of experience;
(2)
The
reputation of the applicant for fair dealing in the community, which
shall be made among credible sources, which sources shall be disclosed
to the applicant in the event of a denial of any license;
(3)
Any
criminal record of the applicant, including any past convictions for
any crime(s), disorderly persons offense(s), or municipal ordinance
violation(s) within this or any other jurisdiction. The Chief of Police
may, as part of the application process, require a fingerprint criminal
background check through the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Criminal
Justice Information Services Division, which may require an additional
fee from the applicant;
(4)
The type of operation contemplated to be conducted by the applicant, particularly whether the business is to be operated from a fixed location, whether it is to be conducted from a location primarily devoted to the purchase and sale of precious metal or other secondhand goods, and other factors bearing on whether the licensed business will be of a fixed and permanent nature. This section shall not be construed to require denial of any license solely on the grounds that the business is not from a fixed location or that the applicant is a transient buyer or itinerant business; however, applicants who fall under the category of a transient buyer or itinerant business must state with specificity on the license application the business address where transaction records required by § 195-6D of this chapter will be stored as well as the location where purchased goods will be retained during the mandatory inspection period required under § 195-6A.
B.
The Chief
of Police shall complete any investigation pursuant to this chapter
within 30 days of the submission of the application to the Borough
Clerk, fully completed by the applicant. If a criminal record check
has been requested within the thirty-day period and has not been received
by the Chief of Police within that period, the Chief of Police may,
if all other factors are satisfactory, recommend a conditional issuance
of the license subject to the finding regarding criminal record.
C.
The Chief
of Police shall, upon completion of the investigation, recommend "grant"
or "denial' of the license to the Borough Clerk, who shall grant or
deny the license. Any recommendation of the Chief of Police shall
be in writing, and in the case of a recommendation of denial, shall
state fully and specifically the reasons for said recommendation.
If the Borough Clerk accepts the recommendation of the Chief of Police
to deny any license, the applicant shall be notified in writing within
10 days of such denial and the Clerk shall forward to the applicant
a statement of the reason or reasons for such denial.
D.
Grounds for recommending denial of license may include reliable information indicating that the applicant has in the past engaged in fraudulent or deceptive business practices in a business identical to or similar to a dealer in secondhand goods. A license may be denied if the investigation reveals a conviction of the applicant or any of its principal officers or employees of any crime(s) or disorderly persons offense(s) in which deceit or misrepresentation is an element; or any conviction of any crime(s) or disorderly persons offense(s) involving theft or the receiving of stolen goods, regardless of whether the applicant was a principal, accessory before the fact, after the fact, or a co-conspirator; or any prior municipal ordinance violation(s) by the applicant or any of its principal officers or employees in this or any other jurisdiction. A license may be denied if the applicant fails to demonstrate an ability to satisfactorily comply with the electronic reporting requirements specified in § 195-5, the retention and inspection requirements of § 195-6, or any other portion of this chapter. Upon receipt of the recommendation of the Chief of Police, the Borough Clerk shall issue or deny the license accordingly, contingent upon the receipt of a bond as required by § 195-7 of this chapter.
E.
Whenever
any application for a permit is denied, the applicant shall be entitled
to a hearing before the Borough Council, at which time the applicant
shall be permitted to introduce such evidence as may be deemed relevant
to such denial. Any applicant exercising the right to appeal must
file a written notice of appeal within 10 days of receiving written
notice of denial of a license to act as a dealer of secondhand goods.
F.
No license
shall be assignable by the dealer.
For every reportable transaction between a dealer and the public,
the dealer shall be required to do as follows:
A.
Require of each person selling or pawning precious metals or other secondhand goods acceptable identification as defined above in § 195-2.
B.
Require
each seller to execute a "Declaration of Ownership," which shall contain
the following certification: "My signature confirms that I am the
sole legal owner of and am legally authorized to sell the goods being
sold. By signing below I certify that I did not obtain and do not
possess the identified goods through unlawful means. I am the full
age of 18 years and the identification presented is valid and correct."
C.
Record
and issue to each person selling or pawning such goods on a sequentially
numbered receipt:
(1)
The
name, address, and telephone number of the purchaser, including the
clerk or employee of the licensee making the purchase;
(2)
The
name, address, date of birth, and telephone number of the seller or
sellers;
(3)
A photographed
recording of the seller in a format acceptable to the Chief of Police,
along with a physical description of the seller, including height
and weight (approximate), hair color, eye color, facial hair, if any,
etc.;
(4)
A photographed recording of the seller's presented acceptable identification, as set forth in § 195-2, in a format acceptable by the Chief of Police;
(5)
A photographed
recording of all items sold in a format acceptable by the Chief of
Police. When photographing, all items must be positioned in a manner
that makes them readily and easily identifiable. Items should not
be grouped together when photographing or imaging. Each item should
have its own photograph;
(6)
The
receipt number;
(7)
A detailed,
legible description of the item(s) and the manufacturer and model
of the item(s) if known; in the case of jewelry, the descriptions
must include style, length, color, design, and stones, if any; any
identifying marks, including numbers, dates, sizes, shapes, initials,
names, monograms, social security numbers engraved thereon, serial
numbers, series numbers, or any other information which sets apart
the particular object from others of like kind;
(8)
The
price paid for the purchase or pawn of the item(s);
(9)
If
precious metals, the net weight in terms of troy pounds, pennyweight
(troy) or kilograms/grams; fineness in terms of karats for gold, and
sterling or coin for silver, in accordance with N.J.S.A. 51:5-1 and
N.J.S.A. 51:6-1 et seq.;
(10)
The
time and date of the transaction.
D.
The information outlined in Subsection C above must additionally be electronically documented through the use of an electronic database system authorized by the Chief of Police. Installation and training in this software will be made mandatory as of the effective date of this chapter and licensing will be conditional upon compliance with proper use of the system as described herein. 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 F below. Through the use of applicably required computer equipment, and using the electronic format approved by the Chief of Police, every dealer shall enter all reportable transactions into the electronic database by the end of the close of business on the same date as the purchase or receipt of property for pawn or consignment. The information entered must contain all pertinent information outlined in Subsection C above.
E.
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 Subsection C above into the database as soon as possible upon the dealer's equipment being repaired or replaced, or 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 this chapter and subsequently being subject to the penalties for doing so, including revocation of the dealer's license as described in § 195-6.
F.
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 Police Department to examine any database, book, ledger, or any other record on the premises relating to the reportable transactions of precious metals or other secondhand goods, as well as the articles purchased or received and, where necessary, relinquish custody of those articles as provided in § 195-6. Itinerant businesses and transient buyers will be responsible for notifying the Chief of Police of the address where these records and articles will be stored.
A.
All precious metals and other secondhand goods purchased, received for pawn, or received for consignment as described above, are to be made available for inspection by the Chief of Police or designee thereof at the designated business address for a period of at least seven calendar days from the date the transaction information is actually reported to the Chief of Police in the approved manner described above in § 195-5, except for jewelry, which must be maintained for at least 10 business days or for the statutory period provided in N.J.S.A 2C:21-36(d). All precious metal or other secondhand goods subject to inspection must remain in the same condition as when purchased or received for pawn and shall not be sold, disposed of, changed, modified, or melted by the dealer until the seven-day retention period has expired. Itinerant businesses and transient buyers will be responsible for notifying the Chief of Police of the location where the purchased item(s) are being held.
B.
Upon probable cause that goods held by a dealer are stolen, and providing that the seller signed the mandatory statement required by § 195-5B upon the sale of those goods, a law enforcement officer with jurisdiction should charge the seller with theft by deception under N.J.S.A. 2C:20-4 on behalf of the dealer, who shall be considered the "victim" of the offense for the purposes of N.J.S.A. 2C:43-3. The officer shall seize the goods, provide the dealer with a receipt, and issue a criminal complaint against the seller for theft by deception and any other criminal charges for which the officer has probable cause that the seller has committed. If convicted of theft by deception and if so found by an order of a court of valid jurisdiction, the seller will be responsible for providing restitution to the dealer under N.J.S.A. 2C:44-2 for the amount paid by the dealer to the seller for the stolen goods.
C.
If market
conditions would create a hardship on the dealer by holding precious
metals or other secondhand goods for such period, the dealer may present
the property to the Chief of Police in order that it may be photographed
and, if deemed necessary by the Chief of Police, an investigation
may be implemented. The Chief of Police shall have the authority to
grant the dealer a waiver of the requirement under this section.
D.
In addition to all other reporting requirements, every dealer shall maintain for at least five years a written record of all purchases of precious metals and other secondhand goods in the form prescribed in § 195-5C.
E.
No dealer
shall purchase any item covered by this chapter from any person under
the age of 18 or in the absence
of providing prior notification of such purchase to the Chief of Police
or business designee identifying the individual from whom such purchase
is to be made and the item to be purchased.
F.
Suspension. The Chief of Police or a designee thereof is hereby empowered to temporarily suspend for cause any dealer's license and rights to operate thereunder. This penalty shall be in addition to any fines and penalties the dealer may incur pursuant to § 195-9 of this chapter.
(1)
Grounds
for suspension. The following shall constitute grounds for suspension:
violation of any provisions of this chapter, including failure to
comply with any training or fees associated with the electronic database
software system in use by the municipality; violation of any other
statute, regulation, or local ordinance; or any other illegal, improper,
or fraudulent activity.
(2)
Procedure for suspension. Upon determination that appropriate grounds exist and that a suspension is warranted, the Chief of Police or a designee thereof shall issue a written notice of suspension of license to the offending dealer and to the Borough Clerk, which shall set forth the grounds for the suspension and notify the dealer of his or her right to appeal pursuant to Subsection H. A temporary suspension shall issue immediately, pending the outcome of any appeal taken. Suspended dealers must immediately cease engaging in the business of purchasing for resale, receiving for pawn, and/or selling of precious metals and/or other secondhand goods in the municipality until reinstatement.
(3)
Reinstatement. Suspended dealers may be reinstated only when the grounds leading to the suspension have, in the determination of the Chief of Police or the Chief's designee, been cured, corrected, or appropriately rectified; or if reinstatement is deemed appropriate by the three-person panel appointed by the Chief of Police upon the timely filing of an appeal as provided in Subsection H.
G.
Revocation. A license issued under this chapter may be revoked by the Borough Clerk upon written recommendation from the Chief of Police or the Chief's designee that the dealer is no longer qualified, capable or competent to comply with the requirements of this chapter. This penalty shall be in addition to any fines and penalties the dealer may incur under § 195-9.
(1)
Grounds
for revocation. The following shall constitute grounds for revocation:
a third violation under this chapter; a second violation under this
chapter less than one year after an earlier violation under this chapter;
conviction for a criminal offense within this or any jurisdiction;
or multiple violations of any other regulations or local ordinances
within this or any jurisdiction.
(2)
Procedure
for revocation. Upon a determination that appropriate grounds exist
and that a revocation is warranted, the Chief of Police or the Chief's
designee shall so report to the Borough Clerk in writing. A temporary
suspension will immediately and automatically issue if one is not
already in effect, pending the outcome of the charge. A three-person
panel, appointed by the Chief of Police, shall review the stated grounds
for revocation and the panel shall issue an appropriate disposition
of either suspension, revocation, or reinstatement. If the panel determines
that revocation is the appropriate disposition, it shall set forth
the grounds for the same in writing in the form of a notice of revocation,
which shall be provided to the dealer. The notice shall advise the
dealer of the right to appeal. If the panel determines that suspension
is the appropriate disposition, it shall provide the dealer with a
notice of suspension that shall advise the dealer of the right to
appeal. Following revocation, the dealer must relinquish his or her
license and must immediately and indefinitely cease operating as a
dealer of precious metals or other secondhand goods within the municipality.
H.
Appeal.
Any applicant wishing to appeal an issuance of a suspension or revocation
shall be entitled to a hearing before a three-person panel appointed
by the Chief of Police, at which time the applicant shall be permitted
to introduce such evidence as may be deemed relevant to such suspension
or revocation. Any applicant exercising the right to appeal must file
a written notice of appeal within 10 days of receiving written notice
of revocation or suspension of license.
I.
A dealer
shall have the right to change the location of the licensed business,
provided that he or she notifies the Borough Clerk, in writing, of
the street address of said new location.
Each dealer covered under this chapter shall deliver a bond
to the Borough Clerk executed by the applicant as principal and executed
by a surety company authorized to do business under the laws of the
State of New Jersey as surety. The bond shall be subject to review
and approval by the Municipal Attorney, as defined in N.J.S.A. 40A:9-139,
and shall be in the penal sum of $10,000, conditioned for the due
and proper observance of and compliance with the provisions and requirements
of all ordinances of the municipality in force or which may be adopted
respecting the conduct of this business and conditioned also that
the bond shall be and remain for the benefit of any person or persons
who shall have received judgment against the dealer licensed under
this chapter, which damage shall be established by a judgment of a
court of proper jurisdiction. Said bond shall contain the following
language: "The obligation of this bond shall, in addition to the Borough
of Rockaway, be and remain for the benefit of any person who shall
obtain a judgment against obligor as a result of damage sustained
in operation pursuant to any license granted under this chapter."
Said 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.
A nonrefundable fee for initial application and license for a pawnbroker or a dealer in precious metals or other secondhand goods and the annual renewal fee for a license are as provided in Chapter A263, Fees. These fees are separate from and in addition to any fees the dealer must pay in relation to the mandatory electronic database system designated by the Chief of Police, as provided by § 195-5D of this chapter. Payments are to be made in the manner directed by the Borough Clerk. A license is valid for a one-year period from the date of its issuance.
Violation of any provision of this chapter by any dealer shall, upon conviction thereof, be punished by a fine not in excess of the limitations of N.J.S.A. 40:49-5, or by a term of imprisonment or a period of community service not exceeding 90 days, in addition to a suspension or revocation of operating license as provided in § 195-6F and § 195-6G above. Each and every violation shall be considered a separate violation. Each violation shall result in an additional suspension period. Any person who is found guilty of violating the provisions of this chapter within one year of the date of a previous violation and who was fined for the previous violation may be sentenced by the court to an additional fine as a repeat offender and, in addition, may be subject to revocation proceedings as provided in § 195-6G. The additional fine imposed as a repeat offender shall not be less than the minimum or exceed the maximum fine provided herein, and same shall be calculated separately from the fine imposed for the violation of this chapter.
A.
Any person,
partnership, limited-liability company, corporation, or other entity
engaging in the business of a pawnbroker, or a dealer in precious
metals or other secondhand goods shall conform to the provisions of
this chapter within 90 days following the effective date of this chapter.
B.
Nothing
contained in this chapter is intended to replace any preexisting statutory
requirements governing pawnbrokers, as in N.J.S.A. 45:22-1 et seq.,
the sale of precious metals as in N.J.S.A. 51:6A-1 et seq., the sale
of secondhand jewelry as in N.J.S.A. 2C:21-36 et seq., or any other
statutory provision regarding any subject matter discussed herein.
