Source: https://ecode360.com/26876947
Timestamp: 2019-01-23 05:30:43
Document Index: 432770279

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 192', '§ 192', '§ 192', '§ 192', '§ 192', '§ 192', '§ 192', '§ 192', '§ 192', '§ 192', '§ 192', '§ 192', '§ 192', '§ 192', '§ 192', '§ 192', '§ 192', '§ 192', '§ 192', '§ 192', '§ 192', '§ 192', '§ 192', '§ 192']

Town of Oyster Bay, NY Secondhand Dealers
§ 192-1 Statutory authorization.
§ 192-2 Findings and intent.
§ 192-4 Applicability.
§ 192-5 Proof of original purchase.
§ 192-6 Interpretation of provisions.
§ 192-7 Disclaimer of liability.
§ 192-8 Licenses.
§ 192-9 Information to be kept; reports.
§ 192-11 New articles to be labeled.
§ 192-12 Lost or stolen articles.
§ 192-13 Recordkeeping; inspections.
§ 192-14 Identification of sellers.
§ 192-15 Penalties for offenses.
§ 192-15.1 Violation of directives.
§ 192-16 Enforcement.
§ 192-17 Reports of violations.
§ 192-18 Revocation or suspension of license.
§ 192-19 Appeals.
§ 192-20 Hearings.
Chapter 192 Secondhand Dealers
[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Board of the Town of Oyster Bay 10-21-1980 (Ch. 27 of the 1971 Code). Amendments noted where applicable.]
Pursuant to the provisions of the New York State Constitution, the Municipal Home Rule Law, the Suburban Town Law, the General Municipal Law and the Town Law, all as amended, the Town Board of the Town of Oyster Bay is empowered to enact local laws and ordinances licensing and regulating occupations and the conduct of business to protect and promote the health, safety, morals or the general welfare of the community. Therefore, the Town Board of the Town of Oyster Bay enacts Chapter 192 into the Code of Ordinances of the Town of Oyster Bay, entitled "Secondhand Dealers."
There is no control in the Town of Oyster Bay governing the activities of those persons engaged in the business of buying and selling secondhand merchandise. Some of these dealers represent to those persons involved in crime an opportunity to dispose of stolen property. If the law enforcement agencies are to function, an ordinance regulating these secondhand establishments is necessary.
The ease with which some secondhand dealers buy and dispose of personal property indicates the need for the enactment of laws to control and regulate their everyday business transactions. A few of the dealers require scant or very often no identification when purchasing personal property, and rarely, if ever, is proof of ownership requested.
It is a fact that secondhand dealers are not required, at the present time, to forward reports of acquired used property to any of the police agencies. With the passage of this chapter, reports would be required from dealers in secondhand jewelry, marine equipment, antiques, cameras, coins, stamps, musical instruments, firearms, televisions, as well as stereophonic equipment. As a result of the reporting, there would be a marked increase in the number of restitutions for the sole reason that now these merchants would be committed to keeping accurate records of the used property purchased and disposed of by forwarding the proper reports to the police on a daily basis at the close of each business day.
This problem involving stolen property is not confined solely to the small dealers. Some of the very largest retailers in the nation, those whose stores are located in the Town of Oyster Bay, buy large quantities of old gold, jewelry and diamonds and forward not one single report of purchase to any police agency in the county. The scope for the exploitation of stolen property is further broadened due to the operations of these merchandising giants.
For small or large business enterprises to be allowed to continue to operate without laws to control and regulate the purchase of secondhand articles not only jeopardizes the property rights of many people but extremely hampers the police agencies in their efforts to recover stolen property and identify suspects.
The security involved in the handling of secondhand property has become a matter of concern to the police agencies charged with the duty and responsibility therein. With the increase in the incident of property thefts, the widespread use of alcohol and drugs, the decline in the value of the dollar, the increase in the price of gold and diamonds, the specter of inflation where barter becomes more of a reality, all point to the imperative that the best interests of the people of the Town of Oyster Bay would be served by the enactment of this chapter.
This chapter will ensure a dramatic rise in the percentage of the stolen property recovered, an increase in the probability that the general public will receive a fairer deal in their business transactions and will better the means to allow the police agencies to obtain more information necessary to apprehend perpetrators of crimes associated with the theft of property. Thereby the public health, morals and general welfare of the Town of Oyster Bay will be protected and promoted.
The acceptance or receipt of merchandise in a new condition as a return, exchange or for credit or refund, if such merchandise was originally purchased as new merchandise from the person accepting or rereceiving the same, nor to any resale of such merchandise as new merchandise or the first subsequent nonretail or exchange of such merchandise as used merchandise.
The burden of proof that an article was originally purchased from the person accepting or receiving it, that it was the first subsequent sale or exchange thereof to a person other than an ultimate consumer or that it was a first sale at retail of such factory rebuilt merchandise shall be upon the person asserting the same. Evidence of an existing trade practice in the Town of Oyster Bay, if any, shall be admissible for the purpose of determining whether or not merchandise is in new or used condition.
This chapter shall not create any liability on the part of the Town of Oyster Bay, its officers, agents or employees or the Nassau County Police Department, its officers, agents or employees, for any act or damage caused as a result from reliance on this chapter or any administrative decision lawfully made thereunder.
There shall be three types of licenses: general license; management license; and exposition license.
A general license shall authorize the licensee to act as a secondhand dealer with respect to all articles other than secondhand automobiles, within the Town of Oyster Bay during the license period specified in Subsection C of this section.
A management license shall authorize the licensee, who is not a dealer in antiques or unique secondhand articles, to operate and manage an antique or unique secondhand articles exposition where such antiques or unique secondhand articles are sold at any fair, show or exhibit or any place where this merchandise is offered for sale within the Town of Oyster Bay, during a period of one month from the date of issuance of such license.
An exposition license shall authorize a dealer in antiques or unique secondhand articles who maintains no place of business within the Town of Oyster Bay to exhibit and sell such articles at any fair, show or exposition within the Town of Oyster Bay, during a period of one month from the date of issuance of such license.
Bonds; fees; conditions.
Each dealer securing a general license shall furnish a bond to the Town of Oyster Bay, with sufficient surety to be approved by the Town Clerk in the penal sum of $2,000 conditioned for the due observance of the ordinance relating to such dealers.
Each manager of an antique or unique articles exposition shall furnish a bond to the Town of Oyster Bay, with sufficient surety to be approved by the Town Clerk in the penal sum of $2,000, conditioned for the due observance of the ordinance relating to dealers who are exhibitors at the exposition.
General or management license fee shall be $100 except that for any general or management license issued prior to October 1, 1981, the fee shall be $75.
Exposition license fee shall be $50; except that for any exposition license issued prior to October 1, 1981, the fee shall be $37.50.
Any license may be revoked or suspended by the Town Board of the Town of Oyster Bay after a hearing thereon pursuant to the provisions of § 192-20 herein, at which time the licensee shall have an opportunity to be heard.
The granting, refusal, revocation or suspension of any license by the Town Board shall be subject to review by certiorari after applicant or licensee has exhausted all administrative remedies.
Application for license. Applicants for a license under this chapter must file with the Town Clerk of the Town of Oyster Bay an application, supplied by the Town Clerk, containing the following information:
A statement as to whether or not applicant has ever been convicted of or now under charge of any crime, misdemeanor or violation of any municipal ordinance, the nature of the offense and the punishment or penalty assessed therefor, and such other facts or evidence as is deemed necessary to establish that the applicant is a person fit and capable of properly conducting the activity or business for which the license is sought.
Two photographs of the applicant, taken not more than 60 days prior to the filing of the application which photographs shall be two inches by two inches, showing the head and shoulders of the applicant in a clear and distinguishing manner. Two photographs and fingerprints are required of each individual applicant; two photographs and fingerprints are required of each partner; no photographs are required of corporate applicants, but all officers must be fingerprinted, as well as any stockholder of 10% or more of the stock.
If the applicant is a corporation, the name, address and title of officer of corporation upon whom process or other legal notice may be served.
A copy of the applicant's fingerprints shall be mailed to the Division of Criminal Justice Services, Albany, New York, requesting a fingerprint search. The Town Clerk shall secure from the applicant the required fee in the form of a check or money order made payable to the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services.
Upon receipt of the license application and upon the approval by the Town Clerk of the Town of Oyster Bay and the payment of the prescribed fees and bonds required of the applicant, the Town Clerk shall prepare and deliver to the applicant his license.
Who has been found by any court of the state to have practiced any fraud, deceit or misrepresentation in the conduct of the secondhand dealer business unless the Town Clerk, after Town Board approval, shall decide in any particular case upon the facts there presented that it is proper to issue the license applied for.
Every dealer in secondhand articles shall furnish to the Police Commissioner of Nassau County or his agent at such times, in such manner and at such intervals as shall be specified by the Police Commissioner, all information requested by the Police Commissioner relative to all records required to be kept under this chapter. Such information shall be supplied on forms to be designated and supplied by the Police Commissioner. Duly licensed dealers in antiques shall furnish daily reports of purchases of secondhand articles within 72 hours.
It shall be unlawful for any dealer in secondhand articles to sell or dispose of any secondhand articles, except articles purchased from another secondhand dealer duly licensed by the Town of Oyster Bay until the expiration of 15 business days after the acquisition by such dealer of such articles. Duly licensed dealers in antiques may sell or dispose of secondhand articles during a period of time prior to the expiration of said 15 days mentioned above, provided that the required record of purchases and sales are met pursuant to § 192-13 hereof.
[1]It shall be unlawful for any person licensed as a secondhand dealer to deal in the purchase or sale of any junk, old rope, old iron, brass, copper, tin, lead, rubber, paper, rags, bagging, slush or empty bottles or employ or use a boat, cart or other vehicle for the purpose of collecting any such things or materials, unless he is also licensed as a junk dealer therefor, as provided for in and pursuant to Chapter 139 of this Code of Ordinances entitled "Junk and Junk Dealers."
Editor's Note: Former Subsection E, prohibiting secondhand dealers licensed as pawnbrokers, was repealed 3-31-2009 by L.L. No. 3-2009. This local law also provided for the redesignation of former Subsection F as Subsection E.
If any articles shall be advertised in any newspaper printed in the County of Nassau as having been lost or stolen and if any goods or articles answering such advertised description or any part thereof shall be in or come into the possession of any dealer in secondhand articles, upon receiving actual written or oral notice of the similarity of description of such articles, such dealer shall immediately give information relating thereto to the Police Commissioner of Nassau County or his agent. No disposition of such articles shall be effected until authorization to do so shall be given to such dealer by the Police Commissioner or his authorized agent. A dealer in secondhand articles, when notified by the Nassau County Commissioner of Police or his agent that property in his possession is stolen or alleged to be stolen, shall take immediate steps to secure that property, and it shall be marked "police stop." Thereafter, such property shall not be sold or removed from the premises until notification is made to the dealer, in writing, by the Police Commissioner of Nassau County or his agent allowing such removal or sale.
Every dealer in secondhand articles who receives secondhand articles on consignment shall keep a record, in the above prescribed book, describing the articles and the name and description of the person or dealer such items are received from.
Such books shall be kept on the business premises of the secondhand dealership or at the place designated on the duly approved license, at all times during normal business hours. Such books shall be open to the inspection of any police officer, to the Commissioner of Police of Nassau County or any inspector of licenses or any person duly authorized, in writing, for such purposes by the Commissioner of Police of Nassau County, who shall exhibit such written authority to the dealer.
Every dealer in secondhand articles shall make available all business premises and any and all rooms or portions of rooms thereof of the secondhand dealership at all times during normal business hours and all articles therein pertaining to said business for inspection by the Commissioner of Police of Nassau County or any inspector of licenses or any person duly authorized, in writing, for such purposes by the Commissioner of Police of Nassau County who shall exhibit such written authority to the dealer.
A failure to comply with the provisions of § 192-8A and B, hereof entitled "Licenses," shall constitute a Class A misdemeanor, punishable by a fine not exceeding $1,000 or imprisonment for a period not exceeding one year, or by both such fine and imprisonment.
A failure to comply with any other section or sections of this chapter shall constitute a violation and shall be punishable by a fine not exceeding $250 or imprisonment for a period not exceeding 15 days, or by both such fine and imprisonment. The continuation of an offense shall constitute a separate and distinct violation hereunder for each day the offense is continued.
In addition to the penalties provided above, any offense against the provisions of this chapter shall subject the person committing the offense to a civil penalty in the amount of $1,000 for each day that the offense shall continue, collectible by and in the name of the Town of Oyster Bay.
In addition to the above-provided penalties and punishment, the Town Board also may maintain an action or proceeding in the name of the Town of Oyster Bay in a court of competent jurisdiction to compel compliance with the provisions of this chapter or to restrain by injunction an offense against this chapter.
In addition to and notwithstanding any other remedy for any offense against this chapter, any person violating a directive issued by the Commissioner or his/her duly authorized representative, made pursuant to the provisions of this chapter, shall be guilty of a violation punishable by a fine not exceeding $900 or imprisonment for a period not to exceed 15 days, or both.
The Town Clerk of the Town of Oyster Bay shall record all convictions for violations of this chapter which are officially brought to her attention by any authorized agency or person.
A license issued under the provisions of this chapter may be revoked or suspended by the Town Clerk after notice for any of the following causes:
Notice of revocation or suspension of a license shall be given in writing setting forth specifically the grounds of the complaint. Such notice shall be mailed, postage prepaid, to the licensee at his last known address, in accordance with §§ 192-8H and 192-10 hereof.
The holder of any license which has been suspended or revoked and any applicant who shall have been denied a license under this chapter may apply for a review of the action of the Town Clerk as hereinafter provided:
Such application shall be in writing, signed and acknowledged by the applicant and shall state the ground or grounds on which the applicant claims that the determination of the Town Clerk was erroneous.
Such application shall be filed with the Town Clerk by the applicant within 20 days after notice of denial of his application or notice of suspension or revocation of his permit by the Town Clerk has been mailed to him or delivered to him in person.
Upon the filing of such application, a hearing shall be held thereon pursuant to the provisions of § 192-20 hereof.
At such hearing the Review Board shall consider the applicant's application upon the record before the Town Clerk in connection with the Town Clerk's consideration thereof, and in its discretion receive new or additional evidence in support thereof or in opposition thereto.
The Review Board, after such hearing, may affirm the action of the Town Clerk or direct the Town Clerk to issue a proper license pursuant to this chapter.
Such hearing shall be held on a date, at a place and hour designated by the Town Board.
The Town Clerk shall give notice thereof, stating the name and address of the applicant or license holder concerned, the subject matter of the hearing and the date, place and hour thereof designated therefor, by mailing a copy thereof to the applicant or license holder concerned at the address shown on the most recent application of such applicant or licensee, at least 10 days before such hearing.
If an applicant or licensee requests a hearing, the Town Board shall designate two or more members of the Town Board to conduct said hearing as a Review Board.