CHAPTER 405
JUNK DEALERS

      Sec. 21-9. Definitions. As used in this chapter, "junk dealer" means any person who engages in business as a dealer and trader in junk, old metals, scrap, rags, waste paper or other secondhand articles that are no longer serviceable for their original manufactured purpose, and "junk yard" means any place in or on which old metal, glass, paper, cordage or other waste or discarded or secondhand material, which has not been a part, or is not intended to be a part, of any motor vehicle, is stored or deposited.

      (1949 Rev., S. 4647; 1953, S. 2330d; P.A. 11-100, S. 13.)

      History: P.A. 11-100 redefined "junk dealer" by adding "that are no longer serviceable for their original manufactured purpose".

      Sec. 21-10. Town ordinances re licensing of junk dealers and regulation of junk yards. Any town may make reasonable ordinances with reference to the licensing of junk dealers engaged in business therein, including the imposition of a license fee in an amount to be fixed by the selectmen at a sum not less than two dollars or more than ten dollars a year, for each team or vehicle used in connection with such business, for the privilege of carrying on such business. Each such junk dealer shall make an application for a license in the town where such dealer is engaged in business. Nothing in this section shall prohibit a junk dealer or employee of such dealer from authorizing a person to enter a junk yard owned by such dealer for the purpose of salvaging or collecting parts or scraps for purchase from such dealer or employee. Except as otherwise provided by special act, and except where there exists a duly constituted local zoning or planning commission, any town, city or borough may, by ordinance, regulate the establishment, location or conduct of any junk yard within its territorial limits.

      (1949 Rev., S. 4648; 1953, S. 2331d; 1957, P.A. 13, S. 89; P.A. 73-14, S. 1, 2; P.A. 11-213, S. 46.)

      History: P.A. 73-14 substituted motor vehicle department for state police department where appearing; (Revisor's note: In 1997 references throughout the general statutes to "Motor Vehicle(s) Commissioner" and "Motor Vehicle(s) Department" were replaced editorially by the Revisors with "Commissioner of Motor Vehicles" or "Department of Motor Vehicles", as the case may be, for consistency with customary statutory usage); P.A. 11-213 deleted provisions re registration with Department of Motor Vehicles, added provisions re making application for license in town where dealer is engaged in business and added provision re entry into junk yard by certain persons, effective July 1, 2011.

      Sec. 21-11. License. Fee. Record. Weekly reports. Penalty. Any person desiring to engage in business as a dealer in junk, metals or other secondhand articles that are no longer serviceable for their original manufactured purpose in any town, city or borough shall make application to the selectmen of such town, the mayor or chief of police of such city or the warden of such borough, as the case may be, for a license to transact such business within the limits of such town, city or borough, and the selectmen of such town, the mayor or chief of police of such city or the warden of such borough shall issue such licenses to such suitable persons as apply for such licenses and may revoke any such license for cause; but the selectmen shall not grant any such license for the carrying on of such business within the limits of any city or borough, and the persons so licensed shall pay, for the benefit of any such town, city or borough, to the authority granting the license, not less than two or more than ten dollars for the license, to be determined by the authority granting the license, and for renewal of such license ten dollars per year. Each license granted under the provisions of this section shall designate the place where such business is to be carried on, and shall continue for one year unless sooner revoked. Each such dealer shall keep a book in which shall be written in English a description of such articles and the name and residence and a general description of the person from whom, and the time and hour when, such property was received; and such book, and all articles of property mentioned in such book, and the place where such business is carried on, may be examined at any time by the selectmen of the town or any person designated by such selectmen, and, in any city or borough, by the chief of police of such city or borough or any person designated by the chief. Each such dealer shall make, weekly, sworn statements of all his or her transactions under such license, describing the goods received and setting forth the name and residence and a description of the person from whom such goods were received, to the chief of police in the case of cities or boroughs and, in other cases, to the town clerk of the town in which such junk dealer resides, and shall keep all goods at least five days after the filing of such statement. Any person who wilfully engages in the business of a junk dealer, unless licensed in accordance with this section or after notice that such person's license has been suspended or revoked, shall be guilty of a class D felony.

      (1949 Rev., S. 4649; 1972, P.A. 223, S. 29; P.A. 11-100, S. 14.)

      History: 1972 act provided for fee of $10 per year for renewal of license; P.A. 11-100 deleted reference to trader in secondhand bicycles, added "that are no longer serviceable for their original manufactured purpose", added penalty for wilfully engaging in business of a junk dealer without a license or after notice that license has been suspended or revoked, and made technical changes.