Buffalo, NY – Erie County Sheriff Timothy B. Howard announces the newly formed Pawn Shop/Secondhand Store Unit has completed registering 98 pawn shops and secondhand stores throughout Erie County. 

The members of the unit began contacting area stores to register the business according to Erie County Local Law 1-2016 (the Pawn Shop Law).  These establishments have all been issued licenses from the Erie County Sheriff’s Office and the Pawn Shop/Secondhand Store Unit will be shifting its attention to compliance.  Businesses found to be in violation of provisions of the law are subject to a $200 fine for the first offense, $1,000 fine for the second offense and $3,000 for each subsequent offense.  Additionally, any business with ten violations in a twelve month period will have its dealer license revoked. 

For businesses that still need a license or a copy of the local law, the store owner can download these at http://www2.erie.gov/sheriff/index.php?q=erie-county-pawn-shop-law-facts-and-forms, or call 716.858.3937. A permanent link to this information can be found on the Sheriff’s Website (http://www2.erie.gov/sheriff)  under the LINKS menu at the bottom of the page.