Borough of Wilkinsburg, PA Chapter 191A Pawnbrokers and Secondhand Dealers

[HISTORY: Adopted by the Borough Council of the Borough of Wilkinsburg 11-18-2009 by Ord. No. 2828. Amendments noted where applicable.]

§ 191A-1 Definitions.

The following terms are hereby defined for purposes of this chapter:

DEALERS IN SECONDHAND GOODS

Includes any person who otherwise in the normal course of business purchases personal property not from a retail or wholesale entity or auction for the purposes of reselling the property.

PAWNBROKERS

Shall include any person who:

A. Engages in the business of lending money on the deposit or pledge of personal property other than choses in action, securities or written endeavors or indebtedness; or

B. Purchases personal property with an express or implied agreement or understanding to sell it back at a subsequent time at a stipulated price; or

C. Lends money upon goods, wares or merchandise pledged, stored or deposited as collateral security.

PLEDGE

Any property lawfully deposited with a pawnbroker as security for a loan in the course of business defined in the definitions above and below.

TARGET GOODS

A. Jewelry, cameras and photographic equipment, gold coins or silver bars, copper tubing, electronics equipment such as televisions or VCRs or DVDs or radios or computers or computer equipment or microwave ovens, antiques, currency collectibles such as coins or stamps, and any other item of value likely to be the subject of criminal activity such as burglary or theft.

B. Hereafter, the Wilkinsburg Police Department may update this definition by sending a list of categories of target goods to pawnbrokers and dealers in secondhand goods identifying themselves as such.

§ 191A-2 Reporting, sale and inspection of target goods.

A. At the time of any transaction in target goods, the pawnbroker or dealer in secondhand goods shall make a record of the name and address and the driver's license number or other acceptable form of a state identification of the individual selling or pawning the goods in the transaction. Such information shall be supplied to the Wilkinsburg Police Department as part of the report required hereunder.

B. All pawnbrokers and dealers in secondhand goods shall prepare and deliver to the Chief of Police or his/her duly authorized representatives each week a legible and accurate report of all target goods taken in pawn or purchased during the preceding business week. The weekly report shall contain the following information:

(1) The name or names of the individuals selling or pawning the target goods;

(2) An accurate, detailed description, together with serial numbers thereon, if any, of all target goods taken in pawn or purchased;

(3) The amount loaned on or paid for such target goods.

C. Target goods, whether taken in pawn or purchased, shall not be sold, resold or otherwise disposed of for a period of at least 15 days after pawn or purchase by such pawnbrokers or dealers, but this requirement shall not apply to the redemption of a lawfully pledged article by the pledger.

D. Pawnbrokers and dealers shall permit the Chief of Police or his/her duly authorized representatives to inspect any target goods in his/her possession at any time during regular business hours.

E. Failure to timely submit the information required in Subsections A and B shall be a violation of this chapter.

§ 191A-3 Minors.

No pawnbroker or dealer in secondhand goods shall purchase or take in pawn any goods of any kind from any person under 18 years of age unless such minor's parent or guardian is present, and the name of the parent or guardian shall be reported along with the report of the transaction.

§ 191A-4 Violations and penalties.

A. Whoever violates any provision of this chapter shall be fined no less than $500 nor more than $1,000 for each offense.

B. Each item of target goods that is not reported in accordance with § 191A-2 shall constitute a separate offense.

C. Each day that the reporting requirements of § 191A-2 are not met shall constitute a separate offense.

D. In default of payment of the aforenoted fines, a term of imprisonment of not more than 90 days may be imposed following a hearing in accord with 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 9730.