Pawnshop law proposed

A proposed countywide ordinance aimed at registering items at pawn shops has the backing of the Columbia Falls City Council. The goal is to make it easier for law enforcement to track down stolen goods that thieves might try to sell at a pawn shop.

Police chief Dave Perry told the council at their Oct. 20 meeting that Columbia Falls currently does not have such an ordinance, and Rex’s Pawn, the only pawn shop in town, already registers items and works well with the police.

Kalispell, which has several pawn shops, has an ordinance in effect, and Whitefish has no pawn shops or a pawnshop ordinance, Perry said.

Flathead County officials said they will consider using language from the Kalispell ordinance for a countywide ordinance if the three cities agree.

The Columbia Falls City Council authorized a letter of support on Oct. 20. Mayor Don Barnhart noted prior to their vote that pawnshop owners had spoken up at a Kalispell City Council meeting and asked about cases where they had already paid for pawned items.

According to the Kalispell ordinance, pawnshops are required to register a description of items and the seller’s identification, including address, documentation and a signature. Sellers must be over 18 and not under the influence. Items must be held for 14 days before they can be disposed of or altered.

While officials would like to see all items registered in an online database available to law enforcement, exceptions are provided in the Kalispell ordinance.

Items worth less than $50 that are sold in quantities of 25 or more, such as DVDs, as well as used adult and children’s apparel, and items purchased through an auction or from a recognized nonprofit are excepted. Items sold by a person well known to the pawnshop and coins, bullion or commercial grade ingots are also excepted.