Impact
WARD / COUNCILMEMEBR: City Wide
$ IMPACT:
Title
Approval of ORD2021-20 to amend the Pawn Shop Ordinance requiring holds for buy transactions (strictly purchases and not pawns other than precious metals, vehicles, titles, and vehicle components) be lifted and authorize the Mayor to sign and execute all related documents.
Ward: City Wide
Body
ISSUE / BACKGROUND: The key question was whether or not the current requirements stated in the City of Smyrna pawn shop business ordinances, regarding the length of time a pawned or purchased item was required to be held (originally established for the purpose of providing law enforcement ample time to check items for being stolen and be recovered) were unnecessarily lengthy, antiquated, or not in keeping with the speed and efficiency with which information is processed at the present.
As a part of the review process of the pawn policy it was determined that there are second hand businesses in operation in the city, which buy used items and offer them for resale, do not abide by any ordinances for buying and reselling merchandise, while pawn businesses do for the same type transactions (following pawn ordinances). As long as pawn shops continue to maintain their current system of recording pawn and purchase transactions, as specified in the City of Smyrna pawn ordinances, and are vigilant in their efforts to only purchase items from persons and under circumstances they believe or know to be reputable and legitimate, then it is reasonable not to require a holding period unless they are directed to do so by law enforcement.
RECOMMENDATION/REQUESTED ACTION: The City Administration, Police Department, supports approval of ORD2021-20 to amend the Pawn Shop Ordinance requiring holds for buy transactions (strictly purchases and not pawns other than precious metals, vehicles, titles, and vehicle components) be lifted and authorize the Mayor to sign and execute all related documents.