No person shall carry on the business of pawnbroker in the City without first obtaining a license therefor from the Mayor.
An internet drop-off store in compliance with the following conditions is exempt from licensure as a pawnbroker under this chapter:
(a) Has a fixed place of business within this State except that he or she exclusively transacts all purchases or sales by means of the internet and the purchases and sales are not physically transacted on the premises of that fixed place of business.
(b) Has the personal property or other valuable thing available on a website for viewing by photograph, if available, by the general public at no charge, which website shall be searchable by zip code or State, or both. The website viewing shall include, as applicable, serial number, make, model, and other unique identifying marks, numbers, names, or letters appearing on the personal property or other valuable thing.
(c) Maintains records of the sale, purchase, consignment, or trade of the personal property or other valuable thing for at least 2 years, which records shall contain a description, including a photograph, if available, and, if applicable, serial number, make, model, and other unique identifying marks, numbers, names, or letters appearing on the personal property or other valuable thing.
(d) Provide the local police agency with any name under which it conducts business on the website and access to the business premises at any time during normal business hours for purposes of inspection.
(e) Within 24 hours after a request from a local police agency, provide an electronic copy of the seller’s or consignor’s name, address, telephone number, driver license number and issuing State, the buyer’s name and address, if applicable, and a description of the personal property or other valuable thing as described in subdivision (c). The provision of this information shall be in a format acceptable to the local police agency but shall at least be in a legible format and in the English language.
(f) Provide that payment for the personal property or other valuable thing is executed by means of check or other electronic payment system, so long as the payment is not made in cash. No payment shall be provided to the seller until the item is sold.
(g) Immediately remove the personal property or other valuable thing from the website if the local police agency determines that the personal property or other valuable thing is stolen.
(Res. 2014-110. Passed 3-17-14.)