[Ord. No. 2014-13, § 1, 12-23-2014]
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.
[Ord. No. 2014-13, § 1, 12-23-2014]
A current valid New Jersey Driver's License or identification
card, a current valid photo driver's license issued by another
US state, a valid United States Passport, or other verifiable US 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.
The statutory officer whose duties are defined in N.J.S.A.
40A:9-133 and may refer to the duly appointed clerk of the "city,"
"town," "township," "village," or "Borough."
Any person, partnership, association or corporation: lending
money on deposit or pledge of personal property, other than choses
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: i) judicial
sales or sales by executors or administrators; ii) occasional or auction
sales of household goods sold from private homes; iii) auctions of
real estate; iv) 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.
[Ord. No. 2014-13, § 1, 12-23-2014]
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 therefore from the municipal clerk, which license shall bear a number issued by the municipal clerk. The application for a license to the municipal 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 Section 5.60.020 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 point 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 Section 5.60.090.
[Ord. No. 2014-13, § 1, 12-23-2014]
A.
Upon receipt of an application completed pursuant to this chapter,
the municipal 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 Section 5.60.020 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 Section 5.60.060(D) of this chapter
will be stored as well as the location where purchased goods will
be retained during the mandatory inspection period required under
Section 5.60.060(A).
B.
The chief of police shall complete any investigation pursuant to
this chapter within 30 days of the submission of the application to
the municipal 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 municipal 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 municipal 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), disorderly persons offense(s) in which deceit or misrepresentation is an element; or any conviction of any crime(s), disorderly persons offense 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 Section 5.60.050, the retention and inspection requirements of Section 5.60.060, or any other portion of this chapter. Upon receipt of the recommendation of the chief of police, the municipal clerk shall issue or deny the license accordingly, contingent upon the receipt of a bond as required by Section 5.60.080 of this chapter.
E.
Whenever any application for a permit is denied, the applicant shall
be entitled to a hearing before a three-person panel appointed by
the mayor, 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.
[Ord. No. 2014-13, § 1, 12-23-2014]
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 Section 5.60.020.
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 Section 5.60.020, 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 pounds Troy, 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, 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 Section 5.60.060.
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 Section 5.60.060. 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.
[Ord. No. 2014-13, § 1, 12-23-2014]
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 Section 5.60.050 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 required 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 Section
5.60.050(B) 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.
It shall be an affirmative defense to any prosecution or administrative
proceeding brought against a dealer for a violation of this section
if retention for the time period required would have resulted in serious
and substantial economic losses to the dealer, or the probability
of such losses was significant due to rapid and highly fluctuating
market conditions, provided that the persons so charged shall prove
the existence of the market conditions giving rise to the aforesaid
defense by a preponderance of the evidence. Market conditions, in
order to be a defense hereunder, must be such that financial analysts
would characterize trading as at or approaching a level or occurrence
so as to clearly distinguish trading conditions from normal variations
in market movement in response to economic news or other events.
D.
In addition to all other reporting requirements, every dealer shall
maintain for at least five years, a written record of all purchases
precious metals and other secondhand goods in the form prescribed
in Section 5.60.050(C).
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 there under. This penalty shall be in addition to any fines and penalties the dealer may incur pursuant to Section 5.60.090 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 municipal 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 mayor, 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 municipal 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 Section 5.60.090.
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 municipal 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 mayor, 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 Mayor, 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 municipal clerk, in
writing, of the street address of said new location.
[Ord. No. 2014-13, § 1, 12-23-2014]
Each dealer covered under this chapter shall deliver a bond
to the municipal 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 Ship Bottom, 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.
[Ord. No. 2014-13, § 1, 12-23-2014]
A nonrefundable fee for initial application and license for
a pawnbroker or a dealer in precious metals or other secondhand goods,
as covered under this chapter, is $100. The annual renewal fee for
a license is $50. 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
Section 5.60.050(D) of this chapter. Payments are to be made in the
manner directed by the municipal clerk. A license is valid for a one-year
period from the date of its issuance.
[Ord. No. 2014-13, § 1, 12-23-2014]
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 Section
5.60.060(F) and Section 5.60.060(G) 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 Section 5.60.060(G). 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.
[Ord. No. 2014-13, § 1, 12-23-2014]
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 date of its
final passage by the governing body and approval by the mayor.
