Junk Dealers License

DINANCE RE:  JUNK DEALER LICENSES

1. The term "Junk Dealer" as used in this ordinance shall mean a person who shall engage in the business as a dealer and trader in junk, old metals, scrap, rags, and waste paper, or other secondhand articles.

2.  No person shall engage in business as a junk dealer unless licensed so to do as hereinafter provided.

3.  Any person desiring to be licensed as a junk dealer shall make to the Selectmen an application in writing stating his name, residence and post office address, date of his registration with the State Police Department as a junk dealer, the location of his business, and the number of vehicles if any, proposed to be used by him in said business.  Said application shall also state whether or not the applicant has been convicted of theft or of receiving stolen goods within five (5) years preceding the date of the application and shall be accompanied with letters from two (2) citizens of the Town of Stonington stating that they know the applicant and believe him to be a suitable person to be licensed as a junk dealer.  At the time of filing the application, the applicant shall pay to the Selectmen the following fees in cash or by certified check payable to the Treasurer of the Town of Stonington, to wit:  ten dollars ($10.00) license fee for the privilege of carrying on such business together with an additional ten dollars ($10.00) for each team or vehicle used in connection with such business.  Said fees shall be returned to the applicant if the license is not granted.

Upon the approval of the application and the payment of the proper fees, the Selectmen shall issue a license to the applicant to engage in the business of junk dealer for a period of one (1) year from the date of issue, unless sooner revoked for cause, together with two (2) license plates bearing an identifying number for each team or vehicle licensed.  The license plates shall be affixed by the license to each vehicle used in connection with said business so that the same are easily visible one on each side thereof, and the license certificate shall be displayed in the place of business of the licensee at all times.

4.  Before issuing any license, the Selectmen shall make an investigation of the character of the applicant and his suitability to be licensed in accordance with this ordinance.  No license shall be issued to any person unless he is found to be of good character and reputation and a suitable person to be so licensed and no license shall be issued to any person who has been convicted of the crime or theft or of receiving stolen goods within five (5) years preceding the date of said application.

5.  Each dealer licensed hereunder shall make weekly sworn statements of all his transactions under such license, describing the goods received and setting forth the name and residence and description of the person from whom such goods were received to the Selectmen and all such goods received shall be kept by the dealer at least five (5) days after the filing of such statement.  No person licensed hereunder or the employee of any person so licensed shall go about the streets of the Town collecting or offering to buy old rags, old metals, or any other articles commonly referred to as "junk" with any bag or any enclosed receptacle.  Such collection shall be made by means of baskets or other containers without any covering over the top.  No person shall collect waste paper, paper boxes, loose papers or rags and convey them through the highways of the Town except in a vehicle so covered as to prevent such articles from blowing or scattering through the streets.

6.  It shall be the duty of the Selectmen to revoke the license of any person licensed hereunder upon his conviction of violating the terms of this ordinance or in the event he is convicted of theft or of receiving stolen goods, or of buying junk from a minor.

7.  Any person who shall engage in the business of junk dealer without being licensed as herein provided or who being licensed shall fail to comply with the provisions of this ordinance relating to said business, shall be fined not more than fifty dollars ($50.00) or imprisoned not more than three (3) months, or both.

8.  The provisions of this ordinance shall not be construed to apply to any dealer in motor vehicles, nor to any dealer in antique household furniture, china or glassware.

Adopted March 16, 1938