Note: As to slaughterhouse, sales or auction yards, see Section 5.24.060.
The following words and phrases, when used in this article, shall, for the purposes of this chapter, have the meanings respectively ascribed to them by this section:
"Household furniture and furnishings"
means and includes beds, bedding, tables and desks, chairs, stoves, iceboxes, electric refrigerators, floor coverings, crockery, glassware and kitchen and cooking utensils.
"Pawnbroker"
means a person engaged in, conducting, managing or carrying on a business of pawnbroking, or the business of loaning money for him or herself, or any other person, firm or corporation, upon personal property, or the business of purchasing articles of personal property and re-selling or agreeing to re-sell such articles to the vendors or their assigns, at prices agreed upon at or before the time of such purchase.
"Pawnshop"
means any room, store or place in which any such business is engaged in, carried on or conducted.
"Secondhand dealer"
means a person engaged in, conducting, managing or carrying on the business of buying, selling or otherwise dealing in secondhand goods, wares and merchandise including radios for use in, or upon automobiles, except secondhand household furniture and furnishings, as herein defined.
(Prior code § 13.1)
All goods, wares and merchandise, including radios for use in or upon automobiles, purchased or received by any pawnbroker or secondhand dealer, shall be held for a period of at least 20 days after purchased or received, before the same be sold or otherwise disposed of, excepting however, all goods, wares and merchandise, including radios for use in automobiles upon which any duly licensed pawnbroker has issued a pawn ticket, in accordance with the laws of the state, and during such 20 day period all such property shall be kept separate and apart from all other goods, wares and merchandise, including radios for use in or upon automobiles, upon the premises in the possession of such pawnbroker or secondhand dealer, and all such property shall, during such 20 day period, be kept and exposed for police inspection during business hours.
(Prior code § 13.2)
A. 
In all cases where claim is made to property pawned with or sold to a person holding a permit issued pursuant to this article, by a person claiming to be the owner thereof and asserting that the property was stolen, the sheriff shall, after hearing upon notice, determine the validity of such claim and the immediate disposition which should be made as to the possession of the claimed property, as hereinafter provided.
B. 
If the sheriff shall determine that such property was stolen, that the claimant is the owner thereof, and that there is no collusion between the claimant and the person by whom such property was stolen, the sheriff shall direct that such property be returned forthwith to the claimant without compensation of any kind being paid therefor.
C. 
In the event such direction be disobeyed, the permit under which such pawnbroker, or secondhand dealer, is permitted to conduct his or her business may be revoked or suspended by the sheriff without further hearing.
D. 
The sheriff may designate any member of the police department, or deputy sheriff to hear evidence at any or all hearings that may be held hereunder, and to report the findings thereon to the sheriff; but in all cases the sheriff shall determine the disposition of the property.
E. 
If, prior to the determination by the sheriff upon any claim made hereunder, an action at law is brought by or against the person in possession of the property to establish the ownership of, or the right to possession of, the property, the sheriff shall, upon notice thereof, suspend proceedings upon the claim.
(Prior code § 13.3)
It is unlawful for any person to engage in, conduct, manage or carry on the business of a pawnbroker or secondhand dealer on Sundays and legal holidays, and between the hours of seven p.m. of each day, and eight a.m. of the following morning, except that on Saturday and days before legal holidays, and during the 24 hours next preceding Christmas Day, each such person may engage in, conduct manage or carry on such business until the hour of nine p.m.
(Prior code § 13.4)
Violations of this article are punishable as provided by Article 1.24 of this code.
(Prior code § 13.5)