Chapter 5.64
PAWNBROKERS*

Sections:

5.64.010 Pawnbroker defined.

5.64.020 License – Required – Fee.

5.64.030 License – Application – Accompanying forms – Bond.

5.64.040 Register to be kept – Inspection.

5.64.050 Daily report to chief of police.

5.64.060 Doing business with certain persons prohibited.

5.64.070 Unlawful to do business with persons failing to supply required information.

5.64.080 Redemption of pawned goods.

*For the statutory provisions regarding the regulation of pawnbrokers and secondhand dealers, see Chapter 19.60 RCW.

5.64.010 Pawnbroker defined.

Any person, or firm of persons, or corporation who loans money on deposit or pledge of any kind of personal property, other than pledges evidenced by mortgages or conditional sales contracts, or who deals in the purchase of any kind of personal property on condition of selling the same back again at a stipulated price, or who makes a public display at his place of business of the sign generally used by pawnbrokers to denote their business: i.e., one or more gilt or yellow balls, or who publicly exhibits a sign of “Money to loan on Personal Property or 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, held or kept in the city is a pawnbroker. (Ord. 560 § 1, 1949).

5.64.020 License – Required – Fee.

Any pawnbroker, as deemed in LMC 5.64.010 shall, before engaging in the business of pawnbroker within the city, apply for and secure a license, as hereinafter provided, to engage in, conduct, and transact such a business, the fee for which license shall be the sum of $50.00 per year. (Ord. 560 § 2, 1949).

5.64.030 License – Application – Accompanying forms – Bond.

The application for such license shall be accompanied by the form of agreement to be signed by the persons seeking loans, and also a copy of the certificate or ticket issued by the pawnbroker to persons accepting loans, and every such applicant or applicants, before receiving such license, shall give a surety company bond to the city in the penal sum of $1,000, conditioned for the due observance of all such ordinances of the city as may be in force or may be passed, respecting the keeping or conducting of such business at any time during the continuance of such licenses or any renewals thereof. (Ord. 560 § 4, 1949).

5.64.040 Register to be kept – Inspection.

Every person who engages in, operates, or conducts a business as a pawnbroker within the city shall keep a register in which shall be entered in legible writing in ink, in the English language at the time each loan or purchase is made, an accurate account or each and every article, thing, or goods pawned, pledged, deposited of bought in the course of business during that day with the amount paid for, advanced, or loaned upon the same, the year, month, day and hour of receiving or pledging the same, the name of the person or employee conducting the transaction, 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 transaction is had, the name and street and house number of the owner of the property bought or received in pledge, the street and house number of the place from which the property bought or received in the pledge was last removed, and the number of any pawn ticket or ticket issued therefor, a description of the property bought or received in pledge, which in the case of watches shall contain the name of the maker and the number of both the works and the case, and in the case of jewelry shall contain a description of all letters and marks inscribed thereon; provided, that when the article bought or received is furniture or the contents of any house or room actually inspected on the premises, the general record of the transaction shall be sufficient; and no entry made in said book shall be erased, obliterated, or defaced, and the said book, as well as every article or thing pawned, pledged, deposited or sold, shall at all reasonable times be open to the inspection of the mayor, chief of police, or any member of the police force of the city. (Ord. 560 § 3, 1949).

5.64.050 Daily report to chief of police.

It shall be the duty of every person, firm or corporation mentioned in LMC 5.64.010 to make out and deliver to the chief of police of the city every day before the hour of noon a legible and correct copy from the book required to be kept in LMC 5.64.040, containing an accurate description of all personal property, goods, articles, or things received on deposit, pawn or pledge, or purchased during the preceding day, together with the hour the same were received, pawned, pledged, deposited or purchased, and the name, residence and description of the person or persons for whom the same were pawned, deposited, pledged or sold, if such be the case. (Ord. 560 § 5, 1949).

5.64.060 Doing business with certain persons prohibited.

(1) No person, firm or corporation licensed as a pawnbroker as aforesaid shall take or receive in pawn, pledge or deposit for money loaned, or purchased on condition of selling the same back again at a stipulated price, any personal property, bonds, notes, securities, articles or other valuable thing from any minor, or the ownership of which in whole or in part is in, or which is claimed by any minor, or which may be in the possession, or under the control of any minor, or from any person or persons appearing to be intoxicated, or from any person or persons known to be a notorious thief, or receiver of stolen goods, or any known associate of such thief or receiver of stolen property, or to have been indicted or charged with larceny or burglary.

(2) Every such pawnbroker having good cause to believe that any property in his possession has been previously lost or stolen shall forthwith report such fact to the chief of police together with the name of the owner, if known, and the date when and the name of the person from whom the same was received. (Ord. 560 § 6, 1949).

5.64.070 Unlawful to do business with persons failing to supply required information.

It is unlawful for any of the persons, firms or corporations mentioned in LMC 5.64.010 to receive or purchase in any manner any goods or articles or make any advance or loan whatever on the same if the person or persons pawning, pledging, depositing or selling the same shall refuse to make known his, her, or their names, to submit to a general description, or shall refuse to make known the name or names of the person or persons for whom the same were pawned, pledged, deposited or sold, as provided in LMC 5.64.040, or knowingly make any false entry of any matter or thing required to be made in said book or cause or permit the same to be made. (Ord. 560 § 7, 1949).

5.64.080 Redemption of pawned goods.

No property bought or received in pledge by any pawnbroker shall be removed from his place of business, except when redeemed by the owner thereof, within four days after the receipt thereof shall have been reported to the chief of police as herein provided. (Ord. 560 § 8, 1949).