BUFFALO — Ninety-eight pawn shops throughout Erie County have been certified by the newly formed Pawn Shop/Secondhand Store Unit of the Erie County Sheriff’s Office.
The members of the unit began contacting area stores to register the business according to Erie County Local Law 1-2016 (the Pawn Shop Law), enacted in January. These establishments have all been issued licenses from the Erie County Sheriff’s Office and the Pawn Shop/Secondhand Store Unit, which will now be shifting its attention to compliance.
Businesses found to be in violation of provisions of the law — which requires all items they purchase to be held for two weeks before they can sell them, allowing police to have a better chance to return stolen property to their rightful owners and catch thieves — are subject to a $200 fine for the first offense, $1,000 fine for the second offense and $3,000 for each subsequent offense. Additionally, any business with 10 violations in a 12-month period will have its dealer license revoked.
For businesses that still need a license or a copy of the local law, the store owner can download these at http://www2.erie.gov/sheriff/index.php?q=erie-county-pawn-shop-law-facts-and-forms, or call 716-858-3937.
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