Chapter 6.20
PAWNBROKERS

Sections:

6.20.010    Pawnbroker.

6.20.020    License required.

6.20.030    Application—Investigation.

6.20.040    Fee.

6.20.050    Records.

6.20.060    Sales tax.

6.20.070    Minors.

6.20.080    Stolen goods.

6.20.090    Penalty.

6.20.010 Pawnbroker.

A pawnbroker is any person, firm, or corporation engaged in the business of lending money secured by taking possession of personal property, with the right to sell the property if it is not redeemed. A person, firm, or corporation shall be deemed to be a pawnbroker whether the transaction takes the form of a loan by the pawnbroker secured by the property, or a sale to the pawnbroker with the right to repurchase within a stated period of time. (Ord. 97-1420 § 4 (part), 1997.)

6.20.020 License required.

No person, firm, or corporation shall conduct or operate the business of pawnbroker, without having first obtained a license therefore as is herein provided, or in violation of any of the provisions of this chapter. Any pawnbroker’s license may be revoked by the chief of police for any violation of any provision of this chapter. (Ord. 97-1420 § 4 (part), 1997.)

6.20.030 Application—Investigation.

Applications for pawnbroker’s licenses shall be made to the chief of police and shall state the name of the applicant, the place of business, and the number of employees who will participate. The chief of police or any other person designated by the chief shall investigate each applicant for such license and shall determine whether the applicant is a person of good character. No license shall be issued to any person who has been convicted of theft, concealment or receiving stolen property, or any related offense. (Ord. 97-1420 § 4 (part), 1997.)

6.20.040 Fee.

The annual fee for a pawnbroker’s license shall be fifty dollars. (Ord. 97-1420 § 4 (part), 1997.)

6.20.050 Records.

Every pawnbroker doing business in the municipality shall keep a record of every article pledged or sold to such pawnbroker and this record shall be open to inspection by any police officer at any time during business hours. (Ord. 97-1420 § 4 (part), 1997.)

6.20.060 Sales tax.

The sale of pawned items to other than the person pawning the item shall be subject to the sales tax. (Ord. 97-1420 § 4 (part), 1997.)

6.20.070 Minors.

No pawnbroker shall have any business dealings as a pawnbroker with any person less than eighteen years of age, except with written consent of a parent or guardian. No pawnbroker’s license shall be issued to a person who is not eighteen years of age or over; and no pawnbroker shall allow any employee who is less than eighteen years of age to engage in that portion of the pawnbroker’s business. (Ord. 97-1420 § 4 (part), 1997.)

6.20.080 Stolen goods.

It shall be the duty of every pawnbroker to report to the police any article sold to or pledged with that pawnbroker or which is sought to be pledged or sold, if he or she has reason to believe that the article is stolen. (Ord. 97-1420 § 4 (part), 1997.)

6.20.090 Penalty.

Any person violating any portion of this chapter shall be subject to a fine of up to two hundred dollars. (Ord. 97-1420 § 4 (part), 1997.)

TITLE 6 FOOTNOTES

1.    For statutory provisions regarding the Alaska Business Act, see AS Ch. 43.70.

2.    For statutory provisions regarding the regulation of junkyards and junk dealers, see AS Ch. 08.60.

3.    For statutory provisions regarding tourist and trailer camps, motor courts and motels, see AS Ch. 18.35.