Chapter 5.24
PAWNBROKERS
Sections:
5.24.010 Designation of pawnbroker.
5.24.020 License – Required – Application – Fee.
5.24.030 Licensee – Terms.
5.24.040 Records of transactions.
5.24.050 Weekly reports to Police Chief.
5.24.060 Waiting period prior to resale.
5.24.010 Designation of pawnbroker.
Every person engaged in whole or in part in the business of loaning money on deposit of or pledge of any kind of personal property, or who deals in the business of any kind of personal property on condition of selling the same back against a stipulated price, or who makes a public display at his place of business of the kind generally used by pawnbrokers to conduct their business, or who publicly exhibits a sign as “money to loan on personal property on deposit or pledge,” or who keeps any secondhand store or any other place where money is loaned and any kind of personal property is received or kept as security in the City, is declared to be a pawnbroker. (See Chapter 19.60 RCW.) [1956 Code § 5-701, § 1.]
5.24.020 License – Required – Application – Fee.
A. No person shall engage in the business of a pawnbroker in the City without first procuring a license therefor.
B. In order to procure a license, an applicant shall present to the City Council an application which shall contain the name of the applicant, the place where he proposes to conduct his business, the name under which the same shall be conducted, the names of persons interested in the business if a co-partnership or corporation, and in addition thereto, shall supply the City Council with such other and further information as may be required.
C. If such application is approved, the City Clerk shall issue a license to the applicant upon his executing and delivering to the City a bond to be approved by the City Attorney, in the amount of $1,000, conditioned that he will conduct such business in compliance with all of the ordinances of the City and the laws of the State. The license fee shall be the sum of $100.00 per year. The license shall not be assignable or transferable. [1956 Code § 5-701, § 2.]
5.24.030 Licensee – Terms.
All licenses issued under this chapter shall expire on the thirty-first day of December next succeeding the date of issuance and no reduction in license fee shall be made for any period less than one year. Such license shall be subject to revocation by the City Council for any cause deemed sufficient by it, and, if the license is revoked, the licensee shall cease all pawnbroking business within 30 days from the date of such revocation. [1956 Code § 5-701, § 3.]
5.24.040 Records of transactions.
A. Every pawnbroker doing business in the City shall at all times keep and maintain in his place of business a book or other permanent record in which shall be legibly written in the English language, at the time of each loan, purchase or sale, a record thereof containing the following:
1. The date of the transaction;
2. The name of the person or employee conducting the same;
3. The name, age, street and house number, and a general description of the dress, complexion, color of hair and facial appearance of the person with whom the purchase or pledge is made;
4. The name, street and house number of the owner of the property bought or received in pledge;
5. The street and house number of the place from which the pledge, which in the case of watches, clocks, bicycles, motorcycles, automobiles, guns, revolvers, kodaks, tires, or any other kind of character of property having a number of numbers, shall contain the name of the maker and the number of both the works, case, engine or motor number, or such other number or numbers as may serve to identify it, together with a description of all letters and marks inscribed thereon whereby the same may be identified; provided, that when the article purchased is furniture or the contents of any house or room actually inspected on the premises, a general record of the transaction shall be sufficient;
6. The price paid or amount loaned;
7. The names and street and house numbers of all persons witnessing the transaction;
8. The number of any contract or pawn ticket received or other document evidencing the transaction.
B. Such record and all goods received and purchased shall at all times during the ordinary hours of business be open to the inspection of the Mayor, or any member of the City Council, City Attorney, Chief of Police, or any other police officer of the City. [1956 Code § 5-701, § 4.]
5.24.050 Weekly reports to Police Chief.
Every pawnbroker doing business in the City shall, before noon of every Monday, furnish to the Chief of Police of the City, on such forms as the Chief of Police may provide therefor, a full, true and correct transcript of the records of all loans, sales or purchases made and transactions had on the preceding week; and, if he has good cause to believe that any property in his possession has been previously lost or stolen, he shall forthwith report such fact to the Chief of Police, together with the name of the person, if known, the time when purchased, and the name of the person from whom the same was received by him. [1956 Code § 5-701, § 5.]
5.24.060 Waiting period prior to resale.
No property purchased or received as a pledge by any pawnbroker shall be removed by anyone from his place of business within 15 days after the receipt and purchase thereof has been reported to the Chief of Police as provided in this chapter, but shall be kept separate and apart from other goods for 15 days following such purchase or receipt before being offered for sale. [1956 Code § 5-701, § 6.]