Public hearing on proposed legislation for pawnshop, secondhand - NEWS10 ABC: Albany, New York News, Weather, Sports

Public hearing on proposed legislation for pawnshop, secondhand dealers

The Albany County Legislature has passed a bill that they feel would crack down on the amount of stolen goods being bought and sold in pawn shop type businesses, but many of the businesses are against it.

"Businesses would lose money and citizens would lose privacy," said Jason Pierce, president of ASE Metal Recovery.

The bill would require business owners to have a computerized system keeping track of every person who buys or sells in their store, as well the goods being bought and sold.

That information would then be turned over daily to Albany Police.
 
"If they sell we understand that, but if they are buying that's a private transaction and there is no public benefit of turning it over to the police," said Pierce.
 
Several business owners were at Monday's meeting to voice their opposition toward the bill to Albany County Executive Dan McCoy.
 
"For me I would have to hire another person, purchase a program to make it work, on a daily basis submit to Albany County," said Dennis Connelly.
 
Connelly owns Connelly's Diamond Gallery. He said he realizes the bill is supposed to be helping police catch thieves, but he says he knows first hand that it won't do any good.
 
"I was robbed a couple years ago, they took over $140,000 of jewelry, not one piece ended up in any of the local stores, it all got moved out," said Connnelly.
 
It's now the responsibility of McCoy to pass or veto the bill.
 
"Governor Cuomo said it best, ‘we are open for business so we're not here to hurt business we want to make it easier for them to do business in Albany County right now.'"

He said he couldn't say whether he was leaning one way or another, but he did have a lot to think about.

He has 10 days to veto or pass the bill.