West Virginia Code § 61-3-51

Precious metals and gem dealers; records; prohibited acts
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(a) Each person, firm or corporation in the business of purchasing precious metals or
precious gems, or both, for any purpose other than personal, family or household use, shall
be subject to the provisions of this section. Each such purchaser shall secure from the seller
of the precious metal or precious gem sufficient proof of lawful ownership or a sworn
affidavit of ownership, the original of which shall be retained by the purchaseer.
(b) Each such purchaser of a precious metal or precious gem shall truly and accurately list
each purchase in a permanent record book clearly showing the kind, character and amount
of metal or gem purchased, any special or unique quality or itemu of description concerning
the metal or gem purchased; the date of purchase, the full name and residence address and
mailing address of the seller, and any telephone number of tthe seller. Such record book shall
be open to inspection by any law-enforcement officer in this state during normal business
hours of the purchaser. If any such purchase is made within a municipality, the purchaser
shall report all the information required by this section in writing to the chief of the police
department of the municipality within twenty-four hours of the purchase. If any such
purchase is made outside of a municipality, thse purchaser shall report all the information
required by this section in writing to the sheriff of the county wherein the purchase was
made within twenty-four hours of the purchase. The information required by this section
shall be preserved for a period of nogt less than three years.
(c) Each such purchaser of a perecious metal or precious gem shall not, for a period of ten
calendar days after the purchase, dispose of such metal or gem, remove such metal or gem
from the state or alter inL any way the form or substance of such metal or gem.
(d) As used in this section, "precious metal" means any gold, silver, platinum or other
valuable metal; and "precious gem" means any diamond, pearl, emerald, ruby, sapphire or
similar precious stone.
(e) WAny person, firm or corporation violating any provision of this section shall be guilty of a
felony, and, upon conviction thereof, shall be confined in the penitentiary not less than one
nor more than two years, or, in the discretion of the court, be confined in jail not more than
one year or shall be fined not less than $100 nor more than $5,000, or both fined and so
confined in either the penitentiary or jail, all in the discretion of the court.

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