New Bylaw For Pawn Shops and Second Hand Stores

By 250 News

Prince George, B.C. - There will be a public hearing August 11th on a new bylaw  to regulate Second hand stores and pawn shops in Prince George.

It has been nearly 2 and a half years since the first draft bylaw was presented with the view of  reducing the chance of a  pawn shop  or second hand shop unwittingly being used as a  place to  fence stolen goods.

The Second-Hand Dealers and Pawnbrokers Bylaw is intended to assist in the prevention of crime byestablishing clear rules respecting how second-hand dealers and pawnbrokers operate their businesses.

The bylaw includes regulations that require second-hand dealers and pawnbrokers to collect, record, and transmit to the R.C.M.P. a complete and accurate record of all goods purchased or taken in pawn.

Furthermore, the goods purchased or taken in pawn must not be altered, sold, exchanged or otherwisedisposed of for 30 days (except they may be returned to the original seller or pawner at any time). Thistime period provides the R.C.M.P. sufficient time to review all the records.

These regulations, along with the other provisions of the draft bylaw, will benefit the community by reducing the chance that legitimate second-hand dealers and pawnbrokers will be used by criminals to dispose of their stolen goods.

If approved,  the new bylaw would take effect March 1 of next year.

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