It is unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation to engage in the business of pawnbroker, or to conduct a pawnshop without first obtaining a “pawnbroker’s license” pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.
(Ord. 345 § 2, 2004)
A. 
The term “pawnbroker” as used in this chapter, means and includes every person who takes or receives by way of pledge, pawn, or exchange goods, wares, or merchandise or any kind of personal property whatever, for the repayment of security of any money loaned thereon, or to loan money on deposit of personal property, or who makes a public display of any sign indicating that they have money to loan on personal property on deposit or pledge.
B. 
The term “pawnshop” means and includes every place at which the business of pawnbroker is being carried on.
(Ord. 345 § 2, 2004)
All applications for issuance or renewal of a pawnbroker’s license shall be made to and be filed with the clerk on forms furnished for such purpose. This application shall state the true name of the applicant, who shall not be less than 18 years of age, the names of all persons having a financial, proprietary, or other interest in such pawnshop, together with such other information as the license division deems appropriate. The application shall then be referred to the Shoreline police department for investigation, report and recommendation. If, from the reports and other information available, the clerk deems the applicant to be a fit and proper person, the director shall issue or renew the license applied for.
(Ord. 345 § 2, 2004)
No renewal license shall issue to any pawnbroker until the applicant shall show that they have made a return to the King County assessor of the property in their possession or ownership and the value thereof for tax assessment purposes and has paid the tax due.
(Ord. 345 § 2, 2004)
No pawnbroker’s license shall be issued which would increase the number of holders of such licenses to more than one for every 15,000 of population, according to the last preceding federal census.
(Ord. 345 § 2, 2004)
Every pawnbroker shall maintain at their place of business a book or other medium for electronic reporting in which they shall, at the time of such loan, purchase or sale, enter the following information:
A. 
The date of the transaction;
B. 
The name of the person conducting the transaction and making the entries required herein;
C. 
The printed name, signature, age, street and house number, the general description of the dress, complexion, color of hair and facial appearance of the person with whom the transaction is had, including the identification which the customer shall present to verify their identity, and the account or other number of such identification;
D. 
The name and street and house number of the owner of the property bought or received in pledge;
E. 
The street and house number of the place from which the property bought or received in pledge was last removed;
F. 
A description of the property bought or received in pledge, which shall include the name of the maker of such property or manufacturer thereof and the serial number, if the article has such marks on it, or any other inscriptive or identifying marks; provided, that when the article received is furniture or the contents of any house or room actually inspected on the premises where the sale is made, a general description of the property shall be sufficient;
G. 
The price paid or the amount loaned; and
H. 
The number of any pawn tickets issued therefor.
(Ord. 345 § 2, 2004)
It is unlawful for any pawnbroker or any clerk, agent, or employee of such pawnbroker to fail, neglect, or refuse to make any material entry in this record, as required by this chapter, or to make any false entry therein, or to obliterate, destroy, or remove from their place of business such record within five years from the date of transaction.
(Ord. 345 § 2, 2004)
A. 
Transcript Required. It is the duty of every pawnbroker to deliver to the Shoreline police department at the close of every business week a full, true and correct transcript of the record of all transactions occurring during the preceding week.
B. 
Duty to Report. It is also the duty of any pawnbroker having good cause to believe any property in their possession has been previously lost or stolen, to report such fact to the Shoreline police department immediately, together with the name of the owner, if known, and the date and name of the person from whom the same was received by such pawnbroker.
(Ord. 345 § 2, 2004)
All books and other records of any pawnbroker relating to purchase, pledge, exchange, order or receipt of any goods, wares, merchandise, or other articles or things of value, shall at all times be open for inspection by the Shoreline police department; and all articles or things received, purchased or left in pledge with the pawnbroker shall at all times be open to a like inspection.
(Ord. 345 § 2, 2004)
All pawnbrokers are authorized to charge and receive interest at the rate of three percent per month, for any loan on the security of personal property actually received in pledge, and every person who asks or receives a higher rate of interest or discount on any such loan, or on any actual or pretended sale, shall, on redemption of such personal property, be deemed guilty of a violation of this chapter.
(Ord. 345 § 2, 2004)
The fact of loaning money upon or purchasing goods from any of the classes enumerated in SMC § 5.07.465 shall be prima facie evidence of an intent on the part of such pawnbroker, their agent or employee, to violate this chapter.
(Ord. 345 § 2, 2004)
No pawnbroker shall sell any property held by them as security for a loan until 90 days after the period for redemption shall have expired.
(Ord. 345 § 2, 2004)
A. 
It is unlawful for any pawnbroker, their clerk or employee to receive in pledge, or purchase, any article or thing known to them to be stolen, any article or thing from any person who is under 18 years of age; intoxicated; addicted to the use of drugs; or from any person who is known to be a thief, or a receiver of stolen property, or from any person who they have reason to suspect or believe to be such.
B. 
It is unlawful for any pawnbroker, their clerk or employee, to refuse to return property which has been identified as stolen or pawned without authorization, to any person the pawnbroker, their clerk or employee knows to be the rightful owner, or to charge a fee for the return of such property to the rightful owner.
1. 
“Identified as stolen or pawned without authorization” shall mean any property which has been reported by the rightful owner to legitimate authority as missing or stolen.
2. 
“The rightful owner,” unless otherwise proven, shall be considered to be the person having possession of the property prior to the theft or removal without authorization.
(Ord. 345 § 2, 2004)
It is unlawful for any pawnbroker to conduct or carry on the business of the pawnbroker, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, or to open or keep open their pawnshop for the transaction of any business whatsoever therein, between the hours of 8:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., except from December 1st to December 24th of each year, when pawnbrokers may remain open until 10:00 p.m.
(Ord. 345 § 2, 2004)