Pawnbroker push bill in CA to require eBay sellers to be licensed...]

[Dave Farber <dave () farber net>]

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Pawnbroker push bill in CA to require eBay sellers to be
licensed...
Date: Sun, 26 Feb 2006 20:53:25 -0800
From: Wulf Losee <qx49 () comcast net>
To: dave () farber net

Dave:
This was in Saturday's SF Chronicle. Looks like pawnbrokers are trying to
stifle on-line competition -- and law-enforcement is going along with them.
This certainly has some serious state and national implications if CA
pawnbrokers get their way. Will CA next try to regulate out of state
auctions as well? And will other states jump on the bandwagon?

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/02/25/BUG2IHEGIM1.DTL&hw=ebay&sn=001&sc=1000

> Pawnbrokers try, try and try again
> Proposed bill is 3rd attempt to make eBay traders, auctions report every 
transaction

> Greg Lucas, Chronicle Sacramento Bureau

> Saturday, February 25, 2006

> Sacramento -- California residents who sell goods on eBay could have to 
pay a $295 fee and
> be regulated in the same way as pawnbrokers under legislation designed to 
crack down on
> the sale of stolen property.

> The legislation being pushed by the state's 700 pawnbrokers would replace 
a cumbersome
> paper-based system of reporting transactions of secondhand-property sales 
to local law
> enforcement with a statewide electronic database paid for by dealers.

> Opponents say the bill would impose needless requirements on consignment 
stores,
> auctioneers, eBay trading assistants and the drop-off centers sprouting 
up to help consumers
> sell items on the Internet.

> Creation of the database is backed by the state Department of Justice, 
which would run the
> database, as well as several law enforcement agencies, including the 
California State Sheriffs'
> Association. This is the third attempt by supporters to pass such a 
measure, and although
> both previous efforts had law enforcement support, many backers of the 
legislation believe a
> few new provisions this time around could carry the day.

<snip>



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