Bethlehem, PA Business Licensing & Operations: Pawnbrokers (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Codified Ordinances § 715.01
- Weekly filing deadline
- Tuesday before 10:00 a.m.
- ID required
- PA driver's or non-driver ID number
- Minor sellers
- Must be with parent or guardian
- Melt/smelt hold
- 48-hour hold after photographing item
- Penalty
- Up to $300 fine or 90 days jail
Summary
Bethlehem pawnbrokers, jewelers, and any merchant taking in second-hand jewelry, coins, precious metals, or goods must keep detailed records of every item pawned, exchanged, or purchased and file a copy with the Bethlehem Police Department every Tuesday under Section 715.01 of the Codified Ordinances.
All pawnbrokers, jewelers, or merchants of any kind, buying or taking in to pawn second-hand jewelry, coins, precious metals, or second-hand goods of any kind, shall keep complete and accurate records, on forms provided by the Bethlehem Police Department, of any and all items taken in pawn, exchanged, and/or purchased by them... ... If the item purchased is to be changed in any way, including, but not limited to, melting, or smelting, the purchaser/pawnbroker shall photograph the object and immediately notify, by telephone, the Bethlehem Police Investigative Bureau... ... The item shall not be altered within the forty-eight (48) hours following the notification. A legible, accurate, and complete copy of these records shall be delivered to the Police Commissioner or his designee at his office every Tuesday before 10:00 a.m.
Full Breakdown
01, in Article 715, Pawnbrokers and Second Hand Dealers, requires every pawnbroker, jeweler, or merchant of any kind that buys or takes in pawn second-hand jewelry, coins, precious metals, or second-hand goods of any kind to keep complete and accurate records on forms the Bethlehem Police Department provides. Each record must show the seller's name, address, and telephone number; proof of positive identification such as a Pennsylvania driver's license or non-driver identification number; a description and serial number of the item where one exists; and the price paid.
A seller under eighteen must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian, whose identification the merchant must also record. If a purchased item is going to be altered in any way, including melting or smelting, the purchaser must photograph it and immediately telephone the Bethlehem Police Investigative Bureau, and the item cannot be altered for forty-eight hours after that notification. , and inventory records must be open to Bethlehem Police on demand at any time.
Violations & Fines
Violating any part of Article 715, including failing to keep the required records, missing the Tuesday 10:00 a.m. filing deadline, or altering an item inside the forty-eight-hour hold, is punishable under Section 715.99 by a fine of up to $300.00 or up to ninety days in jail, or both.
Frequently Asked Questions
What records must a Bethlehem pawnbroker keep?
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Sources & Official References
Other rules in Bethlehem
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