Policy Text
ORANGE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE
GENERAL ORDER
Effective Date: October 19, 2022 Amends - GO 6.2.16 ( November 13, 2018 ) Number: 6.2.16
Distribution: All Personnel Review Month: February Reviewing Authority:
CID / General Assignment
Subject: Pawnbrokers /Secondary Metals Recyclers/Secondhand -Precious Metals Dealers
This order consists of the following:
1. Purpose
2. Policy
3. Definitions
4. Procedures
1. Purpose
The purpose of this policy is to delineate guidelines for handling cases involving the
transactions of pawnbrokers, secondary metals recyclers and secondhand precious
metals dealers .
2. Policy
It is the policy of this agency that all employees adhere to appl icable law, including Section
FS 539.003 , the "Florida Pawnbrokers Act," FS 538 “Secondhand Dealers and Secondary
Metals Recyclers” and Orange County Ordinance No. 2010 -16, “Secondary Metals
Recyclers,” in investigating cases that involve pawnbroker transactions.
3. Definitions
A. Appropriate Law Enforcement O fficial - the Sheriff of the county in which a
pawnshop is located , or in case of a pawnshop located within a municipality, the
Police Chief of the municipality in which the pawnshop is located; however, any
Sheriff or Police Chief may designate as the app ropriate law enforcement official
for the county or municipality, as applicable, any law enforcement officer working
within the county or municipality headed by that Sheriff or Police Chief. Nothing in
this subsection limits the power and responsibilities of the Sheriff.
B. Claimant - a person who claims that his or her property was misappropriated.
C. Conveying Customer - a person who delivers property into the custody of a
pawnbroker, either by pawn, sale, consignment, or trade.
D. Default Date - that date upo n which the pledgor's right of redemption expires and
absolute right, title, and interest in and to the pledged goods shall vest in and shall
be deemed conveyed to the pawnbroker by operation of law.
E. Ferrous Metals - any metals containing significant qua ntities of iron or steel.
F. Misappropriated - stolen, embezzled, converted, or otherwise wrongfully
appropriated against the will of the rightful owner.
6.2.16, Page 2 of 9
G. Nonferrous Metals – metals not containing significant quantities of iron or steel,
including, without limitation, copper, brass, aluminum, bronze, lead, zinc, nickel
and alloys thereof, excluding precious metals subj ect to regulation under FS 538
Part 1 .
H. Pawn - any advancement of funds on the security of pledged goods o n condition
that the pledged goods are left in the possession of the pawnbroker for the duration
of the pawn and may be redeemed by the pledgor on the terms and conditions as
established by Florida Statute.
I. Pawnbroker - any person who is engaged in the b usiness of making pawns; who
makes a public display containing the term "pawn," "pawnbroker," "pawnshop" or
any derivative thereof; who publicly displays a sign or symbol historically identified
with pawns. A pawnbroker may also engage in the business of p urchasing goods
which includes consignment and trade.
J. Pawnbroker Transaction Form - the instrument on which a pawnbroker records
pawns and purchases as provided in FS 539.
K. Pawnshop - the location at which a pawnbroker conducts business.
L. PawnWeb – web based software which allows for the electronic transfer of pawn
transactions, secondhand dealers transactions, and metals recyclers’ tra nsactions
to an agency server. Users generate pawnbroker transaction forms using the
software which are then main tained at their business consistent with FS 539.
M. Pledged Goods - tangible per sonal property that is deposited with or otherwise
delivered into the possession of a pawnbroker in connection with a pawn. "Pledged
goods" does not include titles or any other form of written security intangible
property in lieu of actual physical possess ion, including, but not limited to, cho ices
in action, securities, printed evidence of indebtedness, or certificates of title and
other instruments evidencing title to separate items of property, including motor
vehicles. For purposes of federal and state bankruptcy laws, a pledgor's interest
in his or her pledged goods during the pendency of a pawn is a right of redemption
only.
N. Pledgor - an individual who delivers pledged goods into the possession of a
pawnbroker in connection with a pawn.
O. Precious Metals - any item containing any gold, silver or platinum or any
combination thereof, excluding any chemical or any automotive, photographic,
electrical, medical or dental materials, or electronic parts.
P. Precious Metals Dealer - a secondhand dealer who no rmally or regularly engages
in the business of buying used precious metals for resale. The term does not
include those persons involved in the bulk sale of precious metals from one
secondhand or precious metals dealer to another.
6.2.16, Page 3 of 9
Q. Purchase - the transfer and delivery of goods, by a person other than a permitted
vendor, to a pawnbroker , secondhand dealer or secondary metals recycler by
acquisition for value, consignment, or trade for other goods.
R. Regulated metals property - any item composed primarily of any nonferrous
metals, but will not