§ 15-2-2. License Required—Pawnbroker/Secondhand Dealer.

A person, firm, or corporation shall not conduct the business of a pawnbroker or a dealer in and keeper of a shop for the purchase and sale, or barter, of old junk, old or scrap metals, or secondhand articles, excepting furniture and books, within the City of Concord without first being licensed pursuant to this Article.

(a)

Application for a pawnbroker license or a secondhand dealer license shall be made annually to the Licensing Officer upon forms provided by the Licensing Officer for that purpose. The license shall be issued or denied in accordance with the General Licensing Ordinance, Article 15-10 and RSA 47:17; RSA 398 or RSA 322. The Licensing Officer shall furnish a copy of the completed application form to the Chief of Police who shall cause an investigation to be made to determine if the applicant has a criminal record. Upon conclusion of the investigation, the Chief of Police shall recommend to the Licensing Officer whether the license should be issued.

(b)

The license fee shall accompany each license application. The license will be valid for one year from the date it is issued and may not be assigned or transferred. A license shall not be issued to a person, firm, or corporation who has been previously convicted of receiving stolen property in this state or any other state or territory of the United States.

(c)

The license fee for the issuance of the license shall be established in Article 1-5 Fees, Fines, and Penalties, Schedule I of the General Code.

(d)

The Licensing Officer may, independently or upon recommendation from the Chief of Police, suspend or revoke said license for just cause, after a hearing.

(1)

Notice and hearing. The Licensing Officer shall notify the licensee in writing, stating the reasons for which the license is subject to suspension or revocation, and shall inform the licensee of the time and place for the hearing. The notices provided for under this subsection shall be deemed to have been properly served when the notice has been delivered personally to the licensee or person in charge or such notice has been sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, to the last known address of the licensee. A copy of such notice shall be filed with the records of the Code Administrator.

(2)

Hearing. A hearing before the Licensing Officer shall be held within five (5) business days of service of notice. Upon written application, or on his or her own motion, the Licensing Officer shall have authority to extend the time for the hearing date.

(3)

Decision. Based upon the record of such hearing, the Licensing Officer shall have the authority to suspend or revoke the license. A suspension shall not exceed the term of the original grant of the license. A license that has been revoked shall not be subject to renewal or restoration except that an application for a new license may be presented and acted upon after the expiration of at least two (2) years after the date of revocation.

(4)

Appeals. The licensee shall be entitled to file an appeal to the Licensing Board pursuant to Section 15-10-11. A motion to stay the decision of the Licensing Officer pending the appeal shall not be requested to the Licensing Board unless the licensee first unsuccessfully sought similar relief from the Licensing Officer. This requirement may be waived by the Licensing Board upon motion in extraordinary circumstances.

(Ord. No. 2806, § I, 11-8-10; Ord. No. 2870, § II, 3-12-12)