(A) The City Council finds that pawnbrokers potentially provide an opportunity for the commission and concealment of crimes. These businesses have the ability to receive and transfer stolen property easily and quickly. The City Council also finds that consumer protection regulation is warranted in transactions involving pawnbrokers.
(B) The purpose of this chapter is to prevent pawnbroking businesses from being used as facilities for commission of crimes and to ensure that these businesses comply with basic consumer protection standards, thereby protecting the public health, safety and general welfare of the citizens of the city.
(C) To help the Police Department better regulate current and future pawn businesses, decrease and stabilize costs associated with the regulation of the pawn industry, and increase identification of criminal activities in the pawn industry through the timely collection and sharing of pawn transaction information, this chapter also implements and establishes the use of the Automated Pawn System (APS).
(2004 Code, § 120.01) (Ord. 95-162, passed 2-27-1996; Ord. 06-0442, passed 8-8-2006)