PAWNBROKERS

Indianapolis-Marion County Revised Code tit. IV, ch. 951, art. I

in effect

Indianapolis-Marion County Revised Code § 951-101 Definitions.

Sec. 951-101. - Definitions. For the purpose of this article the following terms shall mean: (a) Pawnbroker: Pawnbroker means any person, partnership, association, or corporation who lends money on the deposit or pledge of personal property, or who deals in the purchase of personal property on the condition of selling the property back again at a stipulated price, other than choses in action, securities, or printed evidence of indebtedness. (b) Pledge: Pledge means personal property deposited with a pawnbroker as security for a loan. (c) Pledger: Pledger means the person who delivers personal property into the possession of a pawnbroker as security for a loan unless such person discloses that the person is or was acting for another; and in such event "pledger" means the disclosed principal. (d) Person: Person means an individual, a firm, an association, a limited liability company, a partnership, a joint stock association, a trust, or a corporation or any other entity capable of suing or being sued. (G.O. 21, 1995, § 1)

Indianapolis-Marion County Revised Code § 951-102 License required.

Sec. 951-102. - License required. It shall be unlawful for any person to engage in the business of pawnbroker without first obtaining a license therefor from the license administrator. In order to sell secondhand goods, it is not required that a pawnbroker also obtain a license to be a dealer in secondhand goods for the pawnbroker's licensed business location. (G.O. 21, 1995, § 1; G.O. 63, 2009, § 156)

Indianapolis-Marion County Revised Code § 951-103 Application for license.

Sec. 951-103. - Application for license. All applicants shall, as a condition for the granting of a license and on a portion of the application provided by the license administrator, agree that in the event the applicant as licensee receives personal property of any kind that is stolen, he or she claims no right, title or interest in or to such personal property, and that upon request by any law enforcement officer having jurisdiction over the location of his or her place of business, he or she will voluntarily surrender such personal property to the possession of that law enforcement agency when given a receipt for the same. (G.O. 21, 1995, § 1; G.O. 63, 2009, § 156)

Indianapolis-Marion County Revised Code § 951-104 License fees.

Sec. 951-104. - License fees. The annual fee for a license required by this article shall be provided in section 131-501 of the Code. (G.O. 21, 1995, § 1; G.O. 63, 2009, § 156)

Indianapolis-Marion County Revised Code § 951-105 Unlawful purchases.

Sec. 951-105. - Unlawful purchases. It shall be unlawful for any licensee under this article to receive any articles in the course of his business from any person who is in an intoxicated condition, a minor or who is known or suspected by him to have acquired and be disposing of such articles unlawfully. (G.O. 21, 1995, § 1)

Indianapolis-Marion County Revised Code § 951-106 Record to be kept.

Sec. 951-106. - Record to be kept. (a) Every person licensed under this article shall keep and preserve a record in written or electronic form as directed and approved by the license administrator of all personal property purchased by the licensee or accepted by the licensee as a pledge. (b) When receiving the personal property, the licensee shall simultaneously enter the following information into the record required by this section: (1) An accurate description of all articles pawned or purchased; (2) The amount of money loaned on each article pawned or the purchase price of each article purchased; (3) The exact time of the transaction; (4) The name, address, telephone number, age, color, height, weight, complexion, style of beard or mustache, any visible distinguishing marks or conditions, style of dress, and number of any license badge of the person pawning or selling the articles; (5) A copy of an identification card issued to the seller by the United States government or by the government of a state or territory of the United States or the District of Columbia; (6) A photograph of the seller; (7) The number of the pawn ticket issued; and (8) Any other information as required by the license administrator by regulation. (c) In addition to the above records, every licensee under this article shall provide a list of serialized articles that have been acquired by transfers from any location other than the consolidated city and county to the local law enforcement agency having jurisdiction over the locations of the licensee's place of business no later than the next business day after the articles are received. (d) In addition to the record required in subsection (a) of this section, the licensee shall, at the time of purchasing or accepting as a pledge any personal property, require the signature and right thumbprint of the person selling or pledging the property. If the person is unable to write, the person shall sign by mark. In such event, the pawnbroker shall record on the signature card such information as will enable the pawnbroker to identify the person in case of the loss of the ticket. If the person does not have a right thumb, any other existing finger may be used. However, a clear print must be obtained. The signature and thumbprint must be retained by the pawnbroker in written or electronic form, as directed and approved by the license administrator, for a period of three (3) years. (G.O. 21, 1995, § 1; G.O. 63, 2009, § 157; G.O. 11, 2015, § 1)

Indianapolis-Marion County Revised Code § 951-107 Card record for police.

Sec. 951-107. - Card record for police. In addition to the record book required by this article, all licensees under this article shall at the time of receiving any pawned articles fill out a three-inch by five-inch card for each article pawned. Each card shall contain the information required to be kept by licensees under this article, and the right thumbprint of the person pawning or selling the article; if the right thumb is missing, any of the person's fingerprints may be used. The thumbprint shall be made in the manner approved by the local law enforcement agency and shall not be blurred or obliterated. The licensees shall mail these cards to the local law enforcement agency having jurisdiction over the location of the licensee's place of business no later than the next business day after the item of personal property is received. (G.O. 21, 1995, § 1)

Indianapolis-Marion County Revised Code § 951-108 Retention of acquired personal property.

Sec. 951-108. - Retention of acquired personal property. All personal property received by a licensee under this article shall be held intact by the licensee for at least seven (7) business days after the licensee has mailed a copy of the record required to be maintained under state law, which details the item of personal property received, to the local law enforcement agency having jurisdiction over the location of his place of business. Whenever any licensee receives written notice, either from the local law enforcement agency or from an individual, that someone is maintaining a claim of right to possession of the personal property adverse to the licensee, the licensee shall keep the personal property in his possession for thirty (30) days or turn it over to the local law enforcement agency if so required by the local law enforcement agency. Once notice of an adverse claim to the article has been given under this section, the article shall be held for thirty (30) days, during which legal proceedings may be commenced to determine who is entitled to the property. If the matter is not settled or legal proceedings have not been commenced within thirty (30) days, the property shall be returned to the pawnbroker by the local law enforcement agency if held by them. (G.O. 21, 1995, § 1)

Indianapolis-Marion County Revised Code § 951-109 Serial numbers required.

Sec. 951-109. - Serial numbers required. No pawnbroker shall accept as collateral security or for purchase any property of the type given manufacturer's serial numbers or other identifying insignia unless such property shall have plainly visible thereon the manufacturer's serial number or other identifying insignia. (G.O. 21, 1995, § 1)

Indianapolis-Marion County Revised Code § 951-110 Severability.

Sec. 951-110. - Severability. If any section, sentence, clause, word or other provision of this article, or any ordinance amendatory thereof or supplemental thereto, shall be held invalid, such fact shall not affect the validity of any other section, sentence, clause, word or other provision herein, which may be severable therefrom and be valid and capable of reasonable effect and application without such invalid portions, and to this end all such portions of this article are declared severable and shall be so construed whenever possible to do so. (G.O. 21, 1995, § 1)

Source: Consolidated City of Indianapolis and Marion County, Revised Code (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/in/indianapolis_-_marion_county/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TITIVBUCORELI_CH951PADESEGOFLMASADESASCMEDEPRME_ARTIPAFetched: 10/27/2026