reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
V.I. Code tit. 27, § 376 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 27 - Professions and Occupations|Chapter 12 - Scrap Metal Dealers & Scrap Metal Recyclers|§ 376. Exemptions

 This Chapter shall not apply to purchases of regulated metals property from: (1) Organizations, corporations, or associations registered with the Territory as charitable, philanthropic, religious, fraternal, civic, patriotic, social, or school-sponsored organizations or associations, or from any nonprofit corporation or association, provided proof of such status is presented to the scrap metal dealer or recycler; (2) The Virgin Islands Waste Management Authority; (2) [sic] A law enforcement officer acting in an official capacity; (3) A trustee in bankruptcy, executor, administrator, or receiver who has presented proof of such status to the scrap metals dealer or recycler; (4) Any public official acting under judicial process or authority who has presented proof of such status to the scrap metals dealer or recycler; (5) A sale on the execution, or by virtue of any process issued by a court, if proof thereof has been presented to the scrap metals dealer or recycler; or (6) A manufacturing, industrial, or other commercial vendor that generates regulated materials in the ordinary course of business.
V.I. Code tit. 27, § 377 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 27 - Professions and Occupations|Chapter 12 - Scrap Metal Dealers & Scrap Metal Recyclers|§ 377. Prohibitions

 (a) A seller shall not sell and a scrap metal recycler shall not purchase the following scrap metal unless, written documentation is provided that the seller is the owner of the scrap metal or is an employee, agent, or other person authorized to sell the scrap metal on behalf of the owner: (1) Scrap metal marked with the initials or identifying numbers of an electrical company, a telephone company, a cable company or any other public utility, or a brewer; (2) Sewer access utility access covers; (3) Sewer manhole covers; (4) Street light poles and fixtures; (5) Road and bridge guard rails; (6) Highway or street signs; (7) Water meter covers; (8) Metal beer kegs, including those made of stainless steel that are clearly marked as being the property of another person or entity; (9) Traffic directional and control signs; (10) Traffic light signals; (11) Any scrap metal removed from a building or other structure without the written consent of the property owner; (12) written consent of the property owner; (13) Property owned by a telephone, cable, electric, water or other utility and marked or otherwise identified as such; and (14) Unused and undamaged building construction or utility materials consisting of copper, pipe, tubing or wiring, aluminum wire, historical markers, or grave markers and vases.
V.I. Code tit. 27, § 378 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 27 - Professions and Occupations|Chapter 12 - Scrap Metal Dealers & Scrap Metal Recyclers|§ 378. Penalties

 (a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, a scrap metals dealer or recycler who knowingly and intentionally violates any of the following commits a misdemeanor punishable by up to 4 days imprisonment or a fine of $500, or both: (1) Violates section 374 or section 377 of this Chapter; (2) Fails to keep records required by section 372 of this Chapter; (3) Violates section 381(4) of this Chapter; or (4) Violates section 371 of this Chapter. (b) A scrap metals dealer or recycler who commits a third or subsequent violation of subsection (a) commits a felony, punishable by up to 18 months imprisonment, and any of the following: (1) a fine of $5,000; or (2) any higher amount equal to double the pecuniary gain derived by the offender; or (3) any higher amount equal to double the pecuniary loss suffered by the victim. (c) A scrap metals dealer or recycler is presumed to know upon receipt of stolen regulated metals property in a purchase transaction that the regulated metals property has been stolen from another if the scrap metals dealer or recycler knowingly and intentionally fails to maintain the information required in section 372 and shall, upon conviction of a violation of Chapter 105 of Title 14 Virgin Islands Code, be punished as set forth therein in addition to any penalties proscribed in this Chapter. (d) Any person who knowingly gives false verification of ownership or who gives a false or altered identification and who receives money or other consideration from a scrap metals dealer or recycler in return for regulated metals property commits: (1) A felony, punishable by up to 18 months imprisonment or a fine up to $1,000, or both, if the value of the money or other consideration received is less than $300. (2) A felony, punishable by up to 24 months imprisonment or a fine up to $5,000, or both if the value of the money or other consideration received is $300 or more. (e) After two violations of this Chapter by a scrap metal merchant, in addition to the penalties proscribed in subsections (a), (b) and (c), the Department of Licensing and Consumer Affairs may revoke such merchant’s business license. (f) If a lawful owner recovers stolen regulated metals property from a scrap metals dealer or recycler who has complied with §379 of this Chapter, and the person who sold the regulated metals property to the scrap metals dealer or recycler is convicted of theft, a violation of this section, or dealing in stolen property, the court shall, as part of the sentence, order the person convicted to make full restitution, including, without limitation, attorneys” fees, court costs, and other expenses to the scrap metals dealer or recycler. (g) A person acting as a scrap metals dealer or recycler who is not registered with the Department under section 380 of this Chapter commits a felony, punishable by up to 24 months imprisonment or a fine up to $5,000, or both.
V.I. Code tit. 27, § 379 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 27 - Professions and Occupations|Chapter 12 - Scrap Metal Dealers & Scrap Metal Recyclers|§ 379. Stolen regulated metals property; petition for return

 (a) If the scrap metals dealer or recycler contests the identification or ownership of the regulated metals property, the party other than the scrap metals dealer or recycler claiming ownership of any stolen goods in the possession of a scrap metals dealer or recycler may, provided that a timely report of the theft of the regulated metals property was made to the proper authorities, bring an action for replevin in the Superior Court by a complaint in substantially the following form: Plaintiff A. B. sues defendant C. D., and alleges: 1. This is an action to recover possession of personal property on the island of ____. 2. The description of the property is: (list property). To the best of plaintiff’s knowledge, information, and belief, the value of the property is $____. 3. Plaintiff is the lawful owner of the property and can identify the property as belonging to the plaintiff in the following manner: (explain basis of identification). 4. Plaintiff is entitled to the possession of the property _____________. 5. To the plaintiff’s best knowledge, information, and belief the property is located at __________. 6. The property is wrongfully detained by defendant, Defendant came into possession of the property by (describe method of possession). To plaintiff’s best knowledge, information, and belief, defendant detains the property because (give reasons). 7. The property has not been taken under an execution or attachment against plaintiff’s property. (b) The filing fees and the service fee shall be paid by the plaintiff. The court shall award the prevailing party reasonable attorney’s fees and costs. (c) Upon the filing of the complaint, the court shall set a hearing to be held at the earliest possible time. Upon the receipt by a scrap metals dealer or recycler of a complaint for return, the scrap metals dealer or recycler shall hold, and shall not process or otherwise alter or dispose of, the regulated metals property at issue, or any portion thereof until the court determines the respective interests of the parties.
V.I. Code tit. 27, § 380 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 27 - Professions and Occupations|Chapter 12 - Scrap Metal Dealers & Scrap Metal Recyclers|§ 380. Method of payment

 A scrap metals dealer or recycler shall not enter into any cash transaction in excess of $100 in payment for the purchase of regulated metals property. Multiple payments of $100.00 or less during a single transaction with a seller is prohibited.
V.I. Code tit. 27, § 381 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 27 - Professions and Occupations|Chapter 12 - Scrap Metal Dealers & Scrap Metal Recyclers|§ 381. Certain acts and practices prohibited

 It is unlawful for a scrap metals dealer or recycler to do or allow any of the following acts: (1) Purchase regulated metals property between the hours of 8 p.m. and 6 a.m.; (2) Fail to pay any excise tax owed or fail to have a tax registration number; (3) Purchase regulated metals property at a location other than the place of business set forth in the license; (4) Purchase regulated metals property from any seller who presents such property for sale at the licensed location of the scrap metals dealer or recycler when such property was not transported in a motor vehicle; (5) Purchase regulated metals property in return for money from a trailer, a vehicle, or any location other than a fixed location or from any person who is required to prove ownership pursuant to paragraph (4) of this section. However, regulated metals may be purchased from a non-fixed location, or from such person, with any negotiable or nonnegotiable instrument, including a check or draft or any other type of instrument purchased with money and sold for the purpose of making payments or transfers to others.
V.I. Code tit. 27, § 401 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 27 - Professions and Occupations|Chapter 13 - Hotelkeepers|§ 401. Definitions

 For the purposes of this chapter— (1) Every building or other structure or group of structures under the same management kept, used, maintained, advertised, or held out to the public to be a place where sleeping accommodations are furnished for pay to transient or permanent guests in which three or more rooms are furnished for the accommodation of such guests, whether with or without meals, shall, for the purpose of this chapter only, be deemed a “hotel”. (2) “Hotelkeeper” or “Innkeeper” shall mean any person, firm, corporation or enterprise devoted to profit in the administration of a hotel, and, in accordance with the use of the term in this chapter, shall include officials, agents and employees of such person, firm, corporation or enterprise unless otherwise interpreted herein. (3) “Guests” shall mean those individuals who have registered in a hotel and to whom rooms have been assigned but shall also include, for the purpose of this chapter, (1) tenants, and (2) any person entering the property of a hotel with the intention of being a guest and regardless of whether or not he has actually become a registered guest.
V.I. Code tit. 27, § 402 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 27 - Professions and Occupations|Chapter 13 - Hotelkeepers|§ 402. Safes; limited liability

 The proprietor, lessee, or manager of any hotel shall provide a safe in the office of such hotel or other convenient place for the safekeeping of any money, jewelry, ornaments, bank notes, bonds, negotiable securities, precious stones, articles of gold and silver manufacture, or other valuable property of small compass, and shall notify the guests thereof by posting a printed copy of sections 402, 403, and 404 of this title near the registration office and in the public rooms in the hotel, and if a guest or traveler in such hotel neglects to deliver such property to the person in charge of such office for deposit in such safe, the proprietor or manager of such hotel shall not be liable for any loss of such property sustained by such guest or traveler by theft, damage, destruction or otherwise; but no hotel proprietor or manager shall be obliged to receive property on deposit for safekeeping exceeding $200 in value, and if such guest or traveler delivers such property to the person in charge of such office for deposit in such safe, such proprietor or manager shall not be liable for any loss in connection therewith sustained by such guest or traveler by theft, damage, destruction, or otherwise, in any sum exceeding the sum of $200; unless by special agreement in writing with such proprietor or manager.
V.I. Code tit. 27, § 404 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 27 - Professions and Occupations|Chapter 13 - Hotelkeepers|§ 404. Register

 Hotelkeepers shall keep guest registers, but they shall not be obligated to retain such record for more than two years. Such registers shall show the name, residence, date of arrival and departure of guests, and the rate of their room. Whenever such proprietor, lessee or manager is under contract with a corporation, association, partnership or individual by the terms of which such corporation, association, partnership or individual is entitled to receive a percentage of the receipts from such business, such register shall be subject to the inspection of any corporation, association, partnership or individual who is under contract with such proprietor, lessee or manager by terms of which such corporation, association, partnership or individual is entitled to receive a percentage of the receipts from such business, and in such event such records shall not be destroyed until final accounting. Whoever knowingly violates the provisions of this section shall be fined not more than $100 or imprisoned not more than 30 days, or both.
V.I. Code tit. 27, § 405 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 27 - Professions and Occupations|Chapter 13 - Hotelkeepers|§ 405. Property liens

 Hotelkeepers shall have a lien upon the baggage and other valuables of their guests brought into such hotel by such guests or tenants or under their control. Every hotelkeeper who has a lien on property, consistent with the provisions of this section and every hotelkeeper who has in his custody any baggage, personal effects, or any other mobile property unclaimed, can, after six months from the date on which said property was occupied in accordance with the provisions of this paragraph or had been placed in his custody, according to the circumstances, sell the goods at public auction to the highest bidder and for money in cash in the manner provided in this section. At least 15 days prior to the date designated for the auction, a notice shall be published indicating the hour and place where the auction will be conducted and a description of the goods to be sold, in one or more newspapers of general circulation in the Virgin Islands, and if the name and address of the owner of the goods appear in the records of the hotelkeeper, said notice shall be sent by registered mail with acknowledgment of receipt to said owner within the same period and to said address. The hotelkeeper shall withhold from the proceeds of the public sale carried out in accordance with the provisions of this section, the amount required to cover first all costs and expenses of the sale including cost of advertising and of any auctioneer, notary, or any other person employed to carry out the auction; and shall apply the balance of said sum to the account of the debt guaranteed by said lien. If there is an excess of money, the hotelkeeper shall, on request made within 20 days following the sale, deliver the balance to the owner of the property or to his duly authorized agent. In the event the excess of money is not claimed and delivered as previously indicated, within the period mentioned—20 days—the hotelkeeper shall deliver it to the Department of Finance of the Government of the Virgin Islands and at the same time deposit with said office a writ containing the name and place of residence, if known, of the owner of the property offered for sale and a description of the articles sold, the price obtained in the sale, the name and address of the auctioneer or other person conducting the sale at public auction, and a copy of the notice published in accordance with the provisions of this section. Said office shall hold the money for a period of one year and if it should receive a claim duly authenticated by the owner of the property sold at public auction, said office must deliver the amount withheld to the owner of the same or to his heirs or assigns. If claim is not made within a period of one year from the date on which the money was delivered to it, the Department of Finance of the Government of the Virgin Islands shall transfer the money to its general funds.
V.I. Code tit. 27, § 406 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 27 - Professions and Occupations|Chapter 13 - Hotelkeepers|§ 406. Refusal of accommodation

 (a) A hotelkeeper or agent may exclude any person from enjoyment of any accommodation, facility or privilege furnished on his premises, and/or may exclude any person from the premises or any part thereof, by refusal to permit such person to enjoy the same or to enter or remain on the premises if such person— (1) is intoxicated, disorderly, or suffering from a contagious or loathsome disease; (2) is a known criminal; (3) is not able or willing to pay the prevailing price or rates published by the hotel for accommodations; (4) refuses to pay in advance for accommodations when demand is made; (5) refuses to pay for accommodations or credit already given or extended, when demand is made; or (6) is bringing or will bring into the hotel property which such hotel does not customarily receive because accommodations therefor are not easily available, or which may be dangerous to persons or property. (b) No person being the owner, lessee, proprietor, manager, superintendent, agent or employee of any such place shall directly or indirectly refuse, withhold from or deny to any person any of the accommodations, advantages, facilities or privileges thereof, or directly or indirectly publish, circulate, issue, display, post or mail any written or printed communication, notice or advertisement to the effect that any of the accommodations, advantages, facilities and privileges of any such place shall be refused, withheld from or denied to any person on account of race, creed, or color, or that the patronage or custom thereat of any person belonging to or purporting to be of any particular race, creed, or color is unwelcome, objectionable, or not acceptable, desired or solicited.
V.I. Code tit. 27, § 407 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 27 - Professions and Occupations|Chapter 13 - Hotelkeepers|§ 407. Eviction of guests and other persons

 Every hotelkeeper may, in a reasonable and appropriate manner, evict a person from his hotel (the hotel directed by him) when such person insists on violating the rules and regulations approved by said hotel in spite of having been notified about same and of having been warned that he should cease and desist violating these rules or regulations; or commits any act whatever, or does anything offensive to the guests of the hotel or anything damaging to the reputation, dignity or credit of the hotel, or through his acts does anything detrimental to the business of the hotel, whether or not it is specifically mentioned in any rule or regulation. The term “person” as is used in this section, shall include, but without limitation, a guest or tenant of the hotel. A hotelkeeper who reasonably believes that he has a right to evict any person from the premises of his hotel, shall first make known to the said person, either verbally or in writing, that his presence is not desired on the premises of the hotel; and at the same time he shall be asked to leave, either immediately, or at a specified date and time. If the person thus advised is a guest who has paid in advance, the hotelkeeper shall refund said guest upon serving said notice the proportional part of the advance payment which has not been used. The hotelkeeper shall serve a written notice to said person advising him that he should vacate the hotel within a given period of time and letting him know that if he fails to do so he may be dislodged. The hotelkeeper shall indicate in said notice whether the departure is required immediately or at a later date and time. In the event any person is illegally on the property of the hotel, the hotelkeeper may solicit the aid of any member of the police, and it shall be the obligation of every member of the Police Force, at the request of the hotelkeeper, to evict immediately such person from the property of the hotel and with the use of force no greater than the circumstances require. Any person who stays or intends to stay in a hotel for any period of time beyond the period of his reservation as previously indicated by him and as accepted by the hotel shall be considered as illegally remaining on the premises of the hotel and may be evicted from said premises of the hotel, unless the hotel is agreeable to extending the period of said person's original reservation. Any person who continues to occupy his room in a hotel beyond the announced checkout time established by such hotel shall be considered as illegally remaining in occupancy of said room and may be evicted from his room after verbal or written notice is served upon such person by the management of the hotel.
V.I. Code tit. 27, § 408 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 27 - Professions and Occupations|Chapter 13 - Hotelkeepers|§ 408. Posting of hotel rates

 Every keeper of a hotel shall post in each room of such hotel a printed copy of this section and a statement of the charges or rate of charges by the day for such room. No charge or sum shall be collected or received by any such hotelkeeper at a higher rate for the use of such room than is specified in the rate of charges required to be posted. For any violation of this section the offender shall forfeit to the injured party the amount so overcharged.
V.I. Code tit. 27, § 421 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 27 - Professions and Occupations|Chapter 15 - Real Estate Brokers and Salesmen|§ 421. Definitions

 As used in this chapter, unless otherwise provided or the context requires a different construction, application or meaning— “Commission” means the Virgin Islands Real Estate Commission created in section 421a of this chapter. “Real estate” means leaseholds, as well as other interest or estate in land, whether corporeal, incorporeal, freehold or nonfreehold, and whether the real estate is situate in the Virgin Islands or elsewhere. “Real estate broker” means any person who shall act as agent for any principal involved in the sale, purchase, lease or rental of real property, or who solicits listings of real estate for the same purpose, or who advertises or holds himself out as engaged in any of the foregoing activities; it also includes any person who engages in the business of charging an advance fee or contracting for collection of a fee in connection with any contract whereby he undertakes primarily to promote the sale of real estate through its listing in a publication issued primarily for such purpose, or for referral of information concerning such real estate to brokers, or both. “Real estate salesman” means any person employed or engaged under contract by or on behalf of a licensed real estate broker to participate in any activity of the real estate broker directly relating to the sale, purchase, lease or rental of real property, for compensation or otherwise.