Pawnshop ordinance tabled by county commission
The pawnshop ordinance was on the county commission's agenda for its Tuesday meeting, but Capt. S.A. Sommers with the sheriff's department requested more time to prepare the draft ordinance.
Prosecuting Attorney Brian K. Cochran was reviewing the ordinance. Commissioner Greg Puckett moved to table the first reading until the county commission's July 1 meeting. This motion was approved unanimously.
Under the propose ordinance, pawnshops would report pawned items to the sheriff's department by using a service called Leads Online instead of paper forms, faxes or Excel spreadsheets. Law enforcement agencies paying to use the website can search for names, serial numbers and descriptions of pawned items. Pawnbrokers can sign up to Leads Online for free, Sommers said.
Sheriff A.P. Christian said before Tuesday's meeting that the site lets his department check items pawned across the county. A deputy would need all day to drive to each pawnshop and check items.
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