Greeley City Council eases some pawnbroker rules it passed last year

The Greeley City Council on Tuesday night eased some rules on pawnbrokers it levied last year after some of the rules proved onerous for some pawn dealers.

The council changed an ordinance it passed in July 2007 that placed greater requirements on how the brokers do business. The rules -- which went into effect in mid-January -- made pawnbrokers photograph all transactions and made the business owners subscribe to an Internet-based service so police could track stolen goods.

The rules on photographing customers will not change, but automobile pawnbrokers will not be required to subscribe to the Internet subscription service after police told city officials that they can track stolen vehicles differently. Other pawnbrokers dealing in other personal property will still be required to subscribe to the service.

Assistant City Attorney Jeff Parins said the changes to the ordinance were required after comments from business owners and the police.

Parins said the changes will make it easier for pawnbrokers to do business in the city and to get the licenses.

Pawnbrokers will no longer be required to submit three letters of character to get a license to pawn. In addition, they will not have to fill out a financial questionnaire detailing their finances to the city, nor will they have to provide a birth certificate to get a license.

-- Andrew Villegas