Credit: Tom Sofield
LevittownNow.com
State Rep. Frank Farry, with his eyes on the addiction epidemic, has announced support for a bill that would require pawn shops and kiosks to keep more extensive records when purchasing precious metals, including proof of identity of the seller and photographs of each item being sold.
The bill was voted on after some language in the document was amended from the last session.
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The bill, which received strong bipartisan support in the House, will now move forward to the Senate for consideration. Farry and State Rep. Tina Davis voted in favor of the law. State Rep. John Galloway did not case a vote on the proposal.
“As the Commonwealth is still fighting the opioid epidemic, burglaries and stolen items are becoming more frequent,” said Farry. “Unfortunately, it’s far too common that stolen jewelry is melted down and sold, often before victims even realize it is gone – especially when it was stolen by a family member.”
The proposed law, identified as House Bill 41, would also require all precious metal items to be kept for 10 business days after the sale is reported to allow for potential inspection by law enforcement.
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Violations of the bill could result in a second-degree misdemeanor, an increase from the current third-degree misdemeanor previously applied.
“By prohibiting the sale to or purchase from minors, another positive effect of the bill may be that children have fewer resources available that can be used to fund a drug habit,” Farry added. “Families continue to lose loved ones. We must work to create barriers to addiction however possible and be supportive of the victims of crimes.”
