(A) Findings. The City Council makes the following findings regarding the need to regulate pawnbrokers operating within the city.
(1) Pawnbrokers provide an opportunity for the commission of crime and the concealment of crime, because pawnshops have the ability to receive and transfer stolen property easily and quickly.
(2) The pawn industry has outgrown the city’s current ability to effectively and efficiently identify criminal activity related to pawnbrokers and pawn businesses. The adoption of an Automated Pawn System (APS) will allow law enforcement officials to timely collect and share pawn transaction information more efficiently.
(3) Consumer protection regulation of pawn transactions is warranted in light of the potential for abuse.
(B) Purpose statement. The City Council enacts this subchapter of the city code in order to further the following objectives:
(1) The prevention of pawnshops from being used as facilities for the commission of crime;
(2) The identification of criminal activities through timely collection and sharing of pawn transaction information;
(3) The promulgation of consumer protection standards to be adhered to by the pawn industry; and
(4) The protection of the public health, safety, and general welfare of the citizens of the city.
(Prior Code, § 111.285)