§66-254. Records of source of new merchandise

(a)        Record Required. - Each peddler, itinerant merchant, and specialty market vendor must keep a written record of the source of new merchandise the merchant offers for sale. The record must be a receipt or an invoice from the person who sold the merchandise to the merchant. The receipt or invoice must specifically identify the product being sold by product name and quantity purchased and must contain the complete business name of the seller and a description of the type of business. If the seller was an individual, the receipt or invoice must contain the seller's drivers license number, its state of issuance and expiration date, and the seller's date of birth. The merchant must verify this information by comparing the seller's drivers license to the receipt or invoice and signing the receipt or invoice. A special identification card issued by the Division of Motor Vehicles may be used in place of the seller's drivers license for the purposes of providing and verifying information required under this section. If the seller was a corporation, the receipt or invoice must contain the corporation's federal tax identification number, the state of incorporation, the name and address of the corporation's registered agent in this State, if any, and the corporation's principal office address.

(b)        Keeping the Record. - Each peddler, itinerant merchant, and specialty market vendor must keep the record required by subsection (a) of this section with the new merchandise being offered for sale. Once the new merchandise is sold, the merchant must keep the record for a period of three years after the date of the sale.

(c)        Displaying Record or Affidavit. - A peddler, an itinerant merchant, or a specialty market vendor must produce either of the following upon the request of a law enforcement agent:

(1)        The record required by subsection (a) of this section of the source of new merchandise the merchant offers for sale.

(2)        An affidavit under oath or affirmation identifying the source of new merchandise the merchant offers for sale, including the name and address of the seller, the license number of any auctioneer seller, and the date and place of purchase of the merchandise.

A merchant's failure to produce the requested record or an affidavit within a reasonable time of request by a law enforcement agent is prima facie evidence of possession of stolen property. Pending the production of the requested record or affidavit, the agent may take the merchandise into custody as evidence at the time the request is made. Merchandise impounded under this subsection must be disposed of in accordance with G.S. 15-11.1.

(d)       Posted Notice. - A specialty market operator must conspicuously post in plain view of all specialty market vendors a sign informing all vendors that failure to produce, upon the request of a law enforcement agent, either the records or affidavit required under this section is prima facie evidence of possession of stolen property.

(1996, 2nd Ex. Sess., c. 14, s. 24.)