[R.O. 1957, 6:13-1]
As used herein:
(a) 
Junk means old iron, steel, brass, copper, tin, lead and other metals; old cordage, ropes, rags, fibers, or fabrics; old rubber, old bottles or other glass; bones; wastepaper; and other discarded materials which might be prepared to be used again in some form. Junk shall not include antiques (defined as goods deriving an enhanced value because of their age), materials or wastes accumulated by a person as by-products, wastes, or scraps from the operation of his own business or materials held and used by a manufacturer as an integral part of his manufacturing process.
(b) 
Junk yard means a yard, lot or place, covered or uncovered or in an enclosed building containing junk, upon which occurs one (1) or more acts of buying, keeping, dismantling, processing, selling, or offering for sale any junk, in whole units or by parts, for a business or commercial purpose, whether or not the proceeds are to be used for charity.
(c) 
Retail junk dealer means a person who goes about the streets soliciting the purchase of junk or who maintains a store, shop or other place of business or a truck, cart or other vehicle for the purchase, sale and collection in small quantities of junk.
(d) 
Wholesale junk dealer means a person who buys and sells junk in large quantities and who maintains a warehouse, yard or other place of business where junk is purchased or collected in large quantities and permitted to accumulate for the purpose of being sold at wholesale.
[R.O. 1957, 6:13-2]
(a) 
No person shall engage in the business of a retail or wholesale junk dealer without a license.
(b) 
Nothing in this article shall apply to persons maintaining a licensed motor vehicle junk business or motor vehicle junk yard, as defined in N.J.S.A. 39:11-2, unless such persons are also engaged in the purchase, sale and collection of discarded articles and materials other than motor vehicle and motor vehicle parts.
(c) 
A separate license shall be required for each place of business and for each vehicle maintained by junk dealers.
[1]
State law reference: As to City's discretionary power to license, see N.J.S.A. 40:52-1(c) and (e).
[R.O. 1957, 6:13-4]
(a) 
The application for a license shall be in writing and signed by the applicant. It shall be accompanied by the prescribed fees and filed with the License Bureau.
(b) 
The application for a license shall contain:
(1) 
A statement of the name, age and residence of the applicant;
(2) 
The purpose of the license;
(3) 
The place where the licensed business will be conducted; and,
(4) 
If the license is for a vehicle, a detailed description of the vehicle.
(a) 
No junk dealer's license shall be granted by the Mayor to any person:
(1) 
Of disreputable character;
(2) 
Who has been convicted of violating any City, State or Federal law or any disorderly person provision; or,
(3) 
Who has misrepresented any facts in the application.
(b) 
The Mayor may limit, with the approval of Council, the number of licenses to be granted.
[R.O. 1957, 6:13-5]
The license period shall be from June 1 to May 31 of the following year.
[R.O. 1957, 6:13-6]
(a) 
Upon payment of the fees prescribed, the License Bureau shall issue a license to every person granted a license.
(b) 
The license certificate shall state:
(1) 
The purpose of the license;
(2) 
The name and business address of the licensee;
(3) 
The number of the license; and,
(4) 
The expiration date of the license.
[1]
Cross reference: As to the fees, see Article 17 of this chapter.
[R.O. 1957, 6:13-6]
(a) 
The license shall be displayed in a conspicuous place upon the licensed premises at all times.
(b) 
In the case of a licensed vehicle, the license shall be displayed in or upon the vehicle at all times when the vehicle is engaged in the business for which the license is granted.
(c) 
In addition to the license, the City shall issue, and every licensed vehicle shall display on its exterior, in a conspicuous place, a metal plate, to be furnished by the License Bureau bearing the words, "City of Plainfield, Licensed Junk Dealer, No. _______________________________, Expires_____________________, 20___," with the appropriate number and date inserted.
(a) 
Such premises shall at all times be maintained so as not to constitute a nuisance or menace to the health of the community or of residents nearby or a place for the breeding of rodents and vermin.
(b) 
No garbage or other organic waste and no paper, rubbish, rags or other flammable articles or materials shall be stored in such premises.
(c) 
Whenever any motor vehicle shall be received in such premises as junk, all gasoline and oil shall be drained and removed therefrom, and none shall be permitted to remain upon the premises.
(d) 
The manner of storage, arrangement of junk and the drainage facilities of the premises shall be such as to prevent the accumulation of stagnant water upon the premises, and to facilitate access for fire-fighting purposes.
(e) 
All outdoor storage facilities shall be enclosed in a substantial, solid, nontransparent fence not less than eight (8) feet nor more than ten (10) feet high, such enclosure shall at all times be painted and kept in good order.
(f) 
No materials or wastes shall be deposited on any premises in such form or manner that they may be transferred off such premises by natural causes or forces.
(g) 
No material or merchandise of any sort shall be stored in front of the enclosure provided for in Subsection (e) hereof.
(h) 
No person shall burn in any junk yard refuse or junk, including rubber tires, batteries and rubber from wires or any type of junk or old used automobiles which may cause fumes or odors injurious to the health and welfare of adjoining residents.[2]
[2]
Cross reference: See Chapter 8 on air pollution.
(i) 
Such premises shall not be open for business nor shall any work be done therein in connection with the storage, processing and transporting or removal of junk at any time on Sunday, or on any other day of the week before 7:00 A.M. or after 7:00 P.M.
(j) 
Any junk yard should not be located nearer than five hundred (500) feet to any dwelling house, place of residence, church, school, auditorium, place of public gathering or like place.[3]
[3]
State law reference: As to requirement of uniformity in regulation, see N.J.S.A. 40:52-1; Lipkin v. Duffy, 119 N.J.L. 366, 196 A. 434 (1938).
[1]
State law reference: As to standards, see N.J.S.A. 40:52-1; Howell Tp. v. Sagorodny, 25 N.J. 502,138 A. 2d 13 (1958).
[R.O. 1957, 6:13-8]
No junk dealer shall receive in connection with his business any articles or materials by way of pledge or pawn. He shall not lend or advance any money on the security of the articles or materials.
[R.O. 1957, 6:13-9]
(a) 
No junk dealer shall receive or purchase any articles or materials from a person under sixteen (16) years of age.
(b) 
No junk dealer shall receive or purchase any articles or materials which are known by him to have been lost, stolen or converted.
[R.O. 1957, 6:13-10]
(a) 
Every retail junk dealer shall keep a book in which shall be clearly written at the time of each purchase, a description of the article purchased, the name and address of the seller, and the date and hour of the purchase.
(b) 
This book shall be available for inspection by any member or agent of the Police Division or other City agency for a period of one (1) year after the date of the purchase.
[R.O. 1957, 6:13-11]
(a) 
Any junk dealer who receives or is in possession of any articles or materials alleged to have been lost or stolen, upon demand, shall present them for inspection to any officer or agent of the Police Division.
(b) 
If any articles or materials are advertised in any newspaper published in the City as having been lost or stolen, and the articles or materials are, or thereafter come into, the possession of any junk dealer, he shall immediately notify in writing the Chief of Police.
(c) 
In the notice to the Chief of Police, the junk dealer shall state:
(1) 
From whom the articles or materials were received or purchased; and,
(2) 
The time and date of the receipt or purchase.