(A) Generally.
(1) It is unlawful for any person to and no person shall operate as a junk dealer or junk peddler nor engage in the business of keeping a junk store or junk yard nor use a junk wagon for the purpose of collecting, transporting, or disposing of junk without first obtaining a license from the city for that purpose.
(2) A junk peddler’s license shall not authorize a junk peddler to operate as a junk dealer, provided, that a junk dealer may employ the number of junk peddlers as he or she may obtain junk vehicle licenses for, but in case it shall be necessary for the junk peddler to have a license as the junk peddler in addition to the license for the vehicle.
(3) A separate license shall be procured by every junk dealer for each separate junk store or junk yard located on separate premises and for each junk wagon used in the business. Where a junk store and a junk yard located upon the same or contiguous or adjoining premises are conducted or operated by the same person, the business shall be considered as one business and only one license shall be required therefor.
(4) No person licensed as a junk dealer or junk peddler shall receive or hold a license to conduct the business of a pawnbroker or secondhand dealer, except as a dealer in parts and accessories of secondhand motor vehicles.
(Prior Code, § 120.010)
(B) Application.
(1) In addition to the general licensing provisions of this code, the applicant for a license under this subchapter shall also state in his or her written application that he or she has not kept, conducted, or operated and that he or she has not been convicted of keeping, operating, or conducting a fence within one year prior to the date of the application.
(2) Every person, if a corporation, making application for a license as a junk dealer shall state in its written application that it has not, nor has any of its officers, stockholders, or employees, kept, operated, or conducted or been convicted of keeping, operating, or conducting a fence during the period of one year prior to the date of the application.
(3) Every application for a license shall contain the signed recommendation of at least three other citizens of the city as to the good moral character of the applicant. The applicant shall state that the purpose of his or her business is to engage in a particular type of junk business, stating it, as the case may be, and that the person will observe and comply with all provisions of this code or which may hereafter be passed, as the case may be.
(Prior Code, § 120.011)
(C) Fees. Fees for licenses issued pursuant to this subchapter are as follows.
(1) Junk dealer’s license.
(a) The annual fee for a junk dealer’s license shall be an amount as set by the city from time to time.
(b) Every junk dealer who shall operate a junk vehicle in connection with his or her business shall pay the sum of an amount as set by the city from time to time annually, additionally therefor, as a license fee. A separate license shall be obtained for each junk vehicle used in the business.
(2) Junk peddler’s license. The annual fee for a junk peddler’s license, where he or she operates with a junk wagon propelled by motor and who has no junk yard, shall be an amount as set by the city from time to time.
(Prior Code, § 120.012)
(D) Character of applicant. The City Controller shall direct the issuance of licenses under this subchapter to the persons who shall produce satisfactory evidence of good character or reputable standing subject to other provisions of this code.
(Prior Code, § 120.013)
(E) Designation of location of business. Every license granted to a junk dealer shall designate the house, store, place, building, warehouse, yard, or enclosure in which the person receiving the license shall be authorized to conduct or operate the business and the business shall not be conducted or operated in any place other than the place designated in the license.
(Prior Code, § 120.014)
(F) Revocation. The license of any junk dealer or junk peddler who has been convicted of keeping, maintaining, or conducting a fence shall, upon conviction, be immediately revoked. No person shall be granted a license as a retail junk dealer or junk peddler during the period of one year after conviction. No corporation of which any one of the officers, stockholders, or employees has been convicted of keeping, maintaining, or conducting a fence, shall be granted a license as a retail junk dealer during the period of one year after conviction, unless the corporation shall produce satisfactory evidence to the Mayor that the officer, stockholder, or employee has disposed of his or her entire interest in the corporation and has completely served his or her connection with the corporation.
(Prior Code, § 120.015)
(G) Plate, emblems, and badges.
(1) Every person licensed as a junk dealer, before using any junk wagon or causing the same to be used for the collection, transportation, or disposal of any junk, shall obtain from the City Controller, for each junk wagon, a license plate or other suitable emblem on which shall be stamped the words “East Chicago-Junk” and the year.
(2) The person shall also, at the same time that the plate or emblem for a junk wagon is obtained, procure from the City Controller a badge of metal or suitable substitute approximately three inches in diameter for the driver of each licensed junk wagon. The badge shall be provided with a pin or other fastening and shall be worn in a conspicuous place on the outside of the coat.
(3) Every person licensed as a junk peddler under the provisions of this subchapter who does not operate a junk store or junk yard and who is not employed by a junk dealer shall be subject to all the requirements in respect to license plates, emblems, and badges.
(Prior Code, § 120.016)
Penalty, see § 117.999