Bill > S171

This bill amends Chapter 140 of the General Laws to establish new regulations for second-hand dealers, defining their licensing, operational, and record-keeping requirements. It grants authority to local officials, such as the police commissioner of Boston or city aldermen and town selectmen, to license individuals to conduct the business of a second-hand dealer, with the ability to revoke these licenses. The bill outlines that law enforcement officers, including police and state police, have the right to enter the premises of licensed dealers at any time to inspect their business operations, examine all purchased or stored items, and review related books and inventories, with dealers obligated to exhibit these upon demand. Penalties are established for refusing entry or failing to provide requested information, ranging from fines to imprisonment. The bill also specifies that carrying on this business without a license, or in a manner not authorized by the license, can result in fines. It sets a maximum fee of one hundred dollars for a second-hand dealer license or its renewal, to be determined by local government bodies, and requires dealers to post a bond of three hundred dollars. Crucially, dealers must maintain a detailed record of every purchase, including a description of the item, the price paid, the time of purchase, and the seller's name and address, and must also photograph the seller and keep these photographs with their records. These records must be made available for inspection by authorized officials. Violations of these provisions can lead to fines and imprisonment, and dealers found to have purchased stolen articles are liable for the loss and the article can be reclaimed by its rightful owner.