§ 112.03  RECORDS OF PURCHASES.
   (A)   (1)   Every person who owns, operates, or otherwise acts as a precious and or valuable metals dealer, scrapyard, scrap metal dealer, pawnshop, and or a secondhand retailer in accordance with such terms as defined above, shall maintain all records of any and all transactions generated.
      (2)   These records shall be uploaded to a third-party vendor to be determined and approved by the LaPorte County Sheriff. Such records shall be posted daily by the end of the business day. If a technical malfunction occurs during the posting and uploading of records, it is the responsibility of the person uploading the information to contact the LaPorte County Sheriffs Office and report such malfunction and to maintain a hard copy of such records and make them available for inspection by the LaPorte County Sheriffs Office. The dealer shall obtain and report the following information:
         (a)   The date and time of each purchase.
         (b)   An accurate account and description of the item(s) being sold and or pledged. This is to include, but is not limited to size, weight, tradename, serial number, manufacturers identification number, brand name, model number, cellular FCC ID or IMEI, notations of any distinguishing markings, damage, or characteristics that may be unique to that item(s).
         (c)   The price paid for the item(s) only for law enforcement purposes.
         (d)   The dealer shall further require the seller be properly identified with one verifiable piece of current identification that shows name, address, sex, race and date of birth, which shall be government issued photographic identification. A color photograph shall be taken of the identification.
         (e)   A description of any vehicle used in transportation of the scrap metal, valuable metal, or precious metal if that vehicle is used in the weight calculation of the metal. The description should include color, make, model and license plate number with state.
         (f)   A color photograph of the item(s) being sold or pledged.
         (g)   A color photograph of the person from whom the purchase was made.
         (h)   All information required by the LaPorte County Sheriffs Office to be preserved on paper, electronic or computer data system shall be open at all times during the business hours to the inspection of the LaPorte County Sheriffs to examine such records. Such information shall be retained on the business premises of the dealer for a minimum period of two years from date of purchase.
   (B)   Every person who owns, operates, or otherwise acts as a scrapyard or scrap metal dealer shall report transactions as defined in division (A) of this section. The dealer shall obtain and report the following:
      (1)   The date and time of each purchase.
      (2)   If applicable (no identifiers, i.e. serial numbers exist), an accurate account and description of the scrap metal purchased, including the weight and whether it consists of scrap, bar, cable, rod, tubing, wire, wire scrap, clamp, connector, auto parts or other appurtenances or some combination thereof; or the type of building materials purchased.
      (3)   The price paid for the scrap metal; price shall be disclosed only for law enforcement purposes.
      (4)   The dealer shall further require the seller be properly identified with one verifiable piece of current identification that shows name, address, sex, race and date of birth, which shall be government issued photographic identification. The identification shall be documented.
      (5)   A description of any vehicle used in transportation of the scrap metal, if that vehicle is used in the weight calculation of the scrap metal. The description should include color, make, model and license plate number with state.
      (6)   All information required by the LaPorte County Sheriffs Office to be preserved on paper, electronic or computer data system shall be open at all times during the business hours to the inspection of the LaPorte County Sheriffs to examine such records. Such information shall be retained on the business premises of the scrap metals dealer for a minimum period of two years from date of purchase.
(Ord. 2020-1, passed 3-4-20)  Penalty, see § 112.99