As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
PERSON
Individual natural persons, partnerships, joint ventures,
societies, associates, clubs, trustees, trusts, corporations or unincorporated
groups or any officers, agents, employees, servants, factors or any
kind of personal representatives of any thereof, in any capacity,
acting either for himself or for any other person under either personal
appointment or pursuant to law.
PRECIOUS METALS AND GEMS
Items comprised of gold, silver, platinum, palladium and
alloys thereof, gems, coins, containing precious metals and all forms
of previously owned jewelry which contain precious metals.
PRECIOUS METALS AND GEMS BUYER
A person engaged in the business of purchasing metals, gems,
coins, containing precious metals and all forms or previously owned
jewelry, either as a primary business or in connection with another
business, from any person who is not in the business of selling precious
metals as required under N.J.S.A. 51:6A-1 to 51:6A-8 including but
not limited to business commonly referred to as "jewelry stores."
SECONDHAND GOODS
All forms of previously owned goods, including but not limited
to: antiques, furniture, watches, china, crystal, paintings, precious
metals and gems and goods containing precious metals and gems.
The purpose and intent of this Chapter
319 is to provide licensing and regulation of individuals dealing in precious metals, gems and secondhand goods to protect the residents of Rahway, and those transacting business in the City of Rahway as permitted, in part by N.J.S.A. 51:6A-1 et seq. Further, the licensing and regulations of these individuals will further assist the Rahway Police Department and others in recovering stolen goods. In addition, in regard to precious metals and gems, this Chapter
319 shall be complied with in addition to the laws, rules and regulations as contained in N.J.S.A. 51:6A-1 et seq. and N.J.A.C. 13:47C-1.1 et seq.
Any person, partnership or corporation in the full- or part-time
business of purchasing gold, silver, precious metals and gems in the
City of Rahway shall maintain a written record of all purchases, precious
metals or jewels and must, prior to engaging in such business, be
duly licensed by the City. The licensing procedure is to be accomplished
as follows.
As to those business entities which are governed by this section
and who are already doing business in the City prior to the effective
date of this section, then the businesses shall be licensed within
30 days of the effective date of this section.
The annual fee for the license shall be $100. All such licenses
shall be issued for a period of one year commencing January 1 and
expiring December 31 next following the date of issuance, and there
shall be no rebate for any lesser time. The license shall be conspicuously
exhibited upon the premises licensed thereunder.
Any person, partnership or corporation in the business of buying
precious metals or gems who buys, attempts to buy or offers to buy
precious metals or gems on the basis of bulk value from any person
who is not in the business of selling precious metals or gems in the
City of Rahway shall maintain a written record of all purchases and
shall be subject to this section.
The record shall be in a book, non-loose-leaf form, with all
pages numbered in sequence. All entries shall be made in pen or ink.
There shall be no spaces between entries, and each entry shall be
numbered in sequence.
[Amended 7-10-2017 by Ord. No. O-15-17]
The record shall contain the following information:
B. Name and address of seller, sex, date of birth, telephone number,
social security number and place of employment.
C. Detailed description of items purchased including the weight of any
precious metal purchased and a photograph of the item(s) being sold.
[Amended 7-10-2017 by Ord. No. O-15-17]
The purchaser shall require that the seller present at the time
of sale two current and reliable forms of identification and two passport
photographs of the seller.
The purchaser shall make the record available for inspection
to any law enforcement officer, upon demand, without the need for
advance notice. The record shall be kept at the purchaser's business
premises. The records shall be maintained for two years from the date
of purchase.
Each dealer doing business in the City of Rahway shall deliver
to the Chief of Police or his designee, on forms prescribed by the
City of Rahway Police Department a description of all items purchased,
received or sold, within 24 hours of the completion of the transaction,
except for transactions conducted on Saturday in which said list shall
be delivered to the Police Department by no later than 12:00 noon
of the Monday following.
No dealer shall sell, melt, change the form of or dispose of
any articles purchased or received for a period of 10 days from the
date the notification is made to the Chief of Police or his designee.
All such items shall remain on the premises where the purchase was
made until the expiration of the time period set forth herein.
Any person who violates any provision of this chapter shall,
upon conviction thereof, be punished by a fine not exceeding $500
or by imprisonment for a term not exceeding 90 days, or both, within
the discretion of the Municipal Judge. A separate offense shall be
deemed committed on each day during or on which a violation occurs
or continues.