HomeMy WebLinkAboutPrecious Metal Dealer Info0§ 5.203 PAWNBROKERS, SECONDHAND GOODS
MERCHANTS AND OPRECIOUSO METAL DEALERS.
(A) Purpose. The City Council of the City of Columbia Heights finds that pawnbrokers,
secondhand goods merchants and OpreciousO metal dealers potentially provide an opportunity
for the concealment of crimes because such businesses have the ability to receive and transfer
stolen property easily and quickly. The City Council also finds that consumer protection
regulation is warranted in transactions involving pawnbrokers, secondhand goods merchants and
4)precious0 metal dealers. The purpose of this section is, therefore, to prevent pawnbroking,
secondhand goods and OpreciousO metal businesses from being used as facilities for
commission of crimes and to assure that such businesses comply with the basic consumer
protection standards, thereby protecting the public health, safety and general welfare of the
residents of the city.
(B) License required. No person shall exercise, operate, carry -on or be engaged in the business
of pawnbroker, secondhand goods merchant or.%' precious* metal dealer within the city unless
such person is currently licensed under this chapter. A license under this section shall authorize
the licensee to cant' on business only at the permanent place of business designated in the
license. No license may be transferred to a different location or different licensee. A separate
license will be required for each business in this section. For instance, a pawnbroker may not
conduct, operate or engage in the business of secondhand goods dealer without having obtained a
secondhand goods dealer license in addition to a pawnbroker license.
(C) Definitions. The following words and terms when used in this section shall have the
following meanings:
ANTIQUE. Work of art, furniture, decorative object made at an earlier period at least 30+ years
old.
MINOR. Any natural person under the age of 18 years.
PAWNBROKER. A person who loans money on deposit or pledge of personal property or other
valuable items or who deals in the purchasing of personal property or other valuable items on
condition of selling the same back again at a stipulated price or who loans money secured by
security interest on personal property or any part thereof. This section does not apply to a person
doing business under and as permitted by any law of this state or of the United States relating to
banks, building and loan associations, savings and loan associations, trust companies or credit
unions.
PERSON. One or more natural persons; a partnership, including a limited partnership; a
corporation, including a foreign, domestic or nonprofit corporation; a trust; a political
subdivision of the state; or any other business organization.
OPRECIOUSO METALS. Silver, gold or platinum.
v° PRECIOUSO METALS DEALER. Any person, partnership or corporation, either as principal
or agent, who engages in the business of buying or selling secondhand hand items containing O
preciousO metal, including but not limited to jewelry, watches, coins, eating utensils,
candlesticks, decorative objects and ingots.
SECONDHAND GOODS DEALERIMERCHANT. A person engaging in the business of
buying or selling, or both, of any secondhand goods or merchandise previously sold for public
consumption.