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County Commission Approves First Reading of Pawn Shop Ordinance

Sheriff says ordinance will help law enforcement uncover stolen goods; second reading April 3

By Justin Franz
Flathead County Sheriff Chuck Curry. Greg Lindstrom | Flathead Beacon

The Flathead County Commission has taken the first step toward approving a new ordinance requiring pawnshops to register goods in an online database to ensure they are not stolen.

The ordinance mimics a similar law in Kalispell, and Sheriff Chuck Curry said he is optimistic it will help law enforcement combat the valley’s theft problem. The three-person commission unanimously supported the ordinance on a March 20 first reading. It is due for a second reading on April 3.

“I think this will provide us with important tools to recover stolen property without being overly burdensome to local business owners,” Curry said during the commission meeting. “It’s an important tool in our tool belt and it’s just anther thing that will help us do our job.”

Curry said the increase in property crime and theft is the result of a growing drug problem. In an effort to combat theft, the Kalispell Police Department and the Flathead County Sheriff’s Office subscribe to a service called Leads Online, where local pawnshops can register goods they buy to ensure they are not stolen. The City of Kalispell has a rule on the books requiring all pawnshops to register the goods they take in, but there was no such requirement in the county until the March 20 commission decision. Outside of Kalispell city limits, registering goods was entirely voluntary.

Kalispell Police Chief Roger Nasset said his department has used the Leads Online system since 2012 and has recovered thousands of dollars’ worth of stolen goods. In the last year, the service helped recover tools, guns and more than $16,000 worth of stolen jewelry. It has also helped bring charges against numerous individuals, Nasset said.

The county ordinance, which is similar to the city one, will now require all shop owners within the county to maintain a registry of all pawns, purchases or sales. They will also have to keep personal information about anyone who sells, trades or barters items at a shop, including their full name, date of birth and address. The registry will require the pawnshop owner to record all serial numbers and information about the transaction. There are exceptions to the rule, however, and shop owners do not have to register items valued at less than $20 or if the seller is a known customer of the dealer.