Pawnbroker.
Any person who is required to be licensed as a pawnbroker by the state.
Pledged goods.
Tangible personal property other than those [choses] in action, securities or printed evidences of indebtedness, which property was deposited with or otherwise actually delivered into the possession of a pawnbroker as security for money loans, or on condition that it may be redeemed or repurchased by the seller for a fixed price within a fixed period of time.
Used goods.
Any items, goods, products, wares, chattels, or articles of any sort which have previously been owned by someone other than the manufacturer or a dealer whose business it is to sell such when new to the consumer.
(1999 Code, sec. 4.401)
(a) 
Any person who violates any provision of this article shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof shall be punished by a fine as provided for in the general penalty provision found in section 1.01.009 of this code.
(b) 
Each pawnbroker shall be responsible for any action done in the course of the pawnbroker's business by any agent or employee of such pawnbroker which is in violation of this article, whether or not such pawnbroker had knowledge of such action.
(1999 Code, sec. 4.410)
No pawnbroker shall engage in any transaction involving the buying, selling or trading of used goods other than pledged goods unless he complies with all provisions of this article.
(1999 Code, sec. 4.402)
(a) 
Any pawnbroker who in person or through an agent or employee engages in any transaction involving the buying, selling or trading of used goods other than pledged goods shall keep, consistent with accepted accounting practices, adequate books and records relating to all transactions involving the buying, selling or trading of used goods other than pledged goods. Such records shall be preserved for a period of at least two (2) years from the date of the last transaction recorded therein.
(b) 
All such records shall be available for inspection during regular business hours upon request by any police officer of the city.
(1999 Code, sec. 4.403)
(a) 
Any pawnbroker or agent or employee of a pawnbroker who purchases or otherwise receives used goods other than pledged goods in the course of his business shall complete a ticket for each item so received.
(b) 
Such tickets shall contain the following information:
(1) 
Name and address of the person from whom the item was received.
(2) 
Driver's license number or Texas personal identification certificate number of the person selling the item or otherwise giving the item.
(3) 
A full description of the property received, including serial number if the item has a serial number.
(4) 
The signature of the person from whom the property is received.
(c) 
All tickets issued in the course of the pawnbroker's business of buying, selling, or trading goods other than pawned goods shall be consecutively numbered, and a legible copy of each such ticket shall be delivered to the police department upon their request if such request is received within one (1) year of the date the ticket was completed.
(1999 Code, sec. 4.404)
All goods other than pledged goods received by the pawnbroker, his agents or employees which are openly displayed or available to the public shall be accessible for examination by any police officer at any time during regular business hours. Failure to permit such an examination when requested shall be a misdemeanor.
(1999 Code, sec. 4.405)
No pawnbroker, nor agent or employee of a pawnbroker, shall sell, dismantle, deface or in any manner alter or dispose of any item purchased or otherwise received by him at his place of business for seven (7) days after receipt. During such seven (7) day period, all items of property shall be stored or displayed at the pawnbroker's business location in the exact form received, and in a manner so as to be identifiable from the description set out on the ticket required under this article. Such property shall be available during normal business hours for examination by any police officer of the city.
(1999 Code, sec. 4.406)
No pawnbroker nor agent or employee of a pawnbroker shall purchase or otherwise receive in the course of the pawnbroker's business any item, ownership of which is claimed by any minor, or which may be in the possession of or under control of a minor, unless the minor's parent or guardian shall state in writing that such transaction is taking place with such parent's or guardian's full knowledge and consent. It shall be the duty of such pawnbroker to preserve and keep on file, and available for inspection, such written statements of consent.
(1999 Code, sec. 4.407)
Any person who willfully falsifies any records, statements or tickets required by this article shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor. Each falsification shall be a separate offense.
(1999 Code, sec. 4.408)
(a) 
It shall be the duty of the pawnbroker to report immediately to the police department any offer to sell to the pawnbroker, his agents or employees property which such pawnbroker, his agents or employees have actual knowledge is stolen or by reasonable diligence should know is stolen, together with the identity, when known, and description of the person or persons making such offer. Such pawnbroker, his agents or employees shall also report any property acquired by the pawnbroker which the pawnbroker, his agents or employees subsequently determines or reasonably suspects to be stolen property, and the pawnbroker, his agents or employees shall furnish such other information as might be helpful to the police in investigating the matter.
(b) 
It shall be unlawful for any pawnbroker, his agents or employees to purchase an item of property on which are written or affixed the words “Property of the City of Katy” or other words demonstrating ownership by the city except in the following circumstances:
(1) 
Where the person offering such property for sale is an employee of the city authorized by the city secretary to make such a sale and provides the pawnbroker, his agents or employees with a written authorization from the city secretary for the sale of such property; or
(2) 
Where the person offering such property for sale presents, at the time of such offer, a valid receipt from the city secretary evidencing the purchase of such property by the person offering such property.
(1999 Code, sec. 4.409)