Cash Transactions Banned by Louisiana: Government Takes Private Property Without Due

**verus rex** · 10-12-2011, 01:56 PM

This summer, the State Legislature and Governor of Louisiana passed a law that bans individuals and businesses from transacting in cash if they are considered a “secondhand dealer”. House Bill 195 of the 2011 Regular Session (Act 389) broadly defines a secondhand dealer to include “… Anyone, other than a non-profit entity, who buys, sells, trades in or otherwise acquires or disposes of junk or used or secondhand property more frequently than once per month from any other person, other than a non-profit entity, shall be deemed as being in the business of a secondhand dealer. ” The law then states that “A secondhand dealer shall not enter into any cash transactions in payment for the purchase of junk or used or secondhand property. Payment shall be made in the form of check, electronic transfers, or money order issued to the seller of the junk or used or secondhand property…” The broad scope of this definition can essentially encompass everyone; from your local flea market vendors and buyers to a housewife purchasing goods on ebay or craigslist, to a group of guys trading baseball cards, they could all be considered secondhand dealers. Lawmakers in Louisiana have effectively banned its citizens from freely using United States legal tender.

The law goes further to require secondhand dealers to turn over a valuable business asset, namely, their business’ proprietary client information. For every transaction a secondhand dealer must obtain the seller’s personal information such as their name, address, driver’s license number and the license plate number of the vehicle in which the goods were delivered. They must also make a detailed description of the item(s) purchased and submit this with the personal identification information of every transaction to the local policing authorities through electronic daily reports. If a seller cannot or refuses to produce to the secondhand dealer any of the required forms of identification, the secondhand dealer is prohibited from completing the transaction.

This legislation amounts to a public taking of private property without compensation. Regardless of whether or not the transaction information is connected with, or law enforcement is investigating a crime, individuals and businesses are forced to report routine business activity to the police. Can law enforcement not accomplish its goal of identifying potential thieves and locating stolen items in a far less intrusive manner? And of course, there are already laws that prohibit stealing, buying or selling stolen goods, laws that require businesses to account for transactions and laws that penalize individuals and businesses that transact in stolen property. Why does the Louisiana State Legislature need to enact more laws infringing on personal privacy, liberties and freedom?

Motivating the introduction of this legislation was an increase in criminal activity, necessitating law enforcement to develop additional tools in tracking potential criminals. Thefts of copper and other precious metals have risen recently with higher commodity prices and mounting pressures from the economic downturn. The added restrictions under this recent legislation have come about under the pretense of cracking down on crime and helping the government take care of you, all at the cost of your individual privacy, economic, civil liberty and freedom.

Interestingly enough, although Pawnshops are still required to obtain clients personal information and transmit their client database information to law enforcement, they are exempt from the restriction of cash payments. A jeweler next door to a pawnshop cannot offer clients the same payment method offered by its competing pawnshop neighbor.

Act 389 passed by unanimous consent of the Louisiana House of Representatives and only mustered one nay vote (Senator Neil Riser) from the State Senate. The governor signed the legislation into law on July 1, 2011.

Louisiana bans cash transactions | Ackel & Associates L.L.C.

**bart5050** · 10-12-2011, 02:45 PM

This is legislation aimed at pawn shops.
Most states have it in some form or other.

For most states all it requires is for anyone selling junk or used property, to furnish a valid ID and the shop has to keep a record of that ID and transaction description.

It is to to stop fencing of stolen property.
Salvage yards as well, because thieves strip wiring and plumming from houses.
Where economies become depressed and unemployment goes up, theft does as well.

The article is not very informative.
The law may not be as inclusive as they state it to be.

**KellyD** · 10-12-2011, 02:50 PM

Originally Posted by bart5050

This is legislation aimed at pawn shops.
Most states have it in some form or other.

For most states all it requires is for anyone selling junk or used property, to furnish a valid ID and the shop has to keep a record of that ID and transaction description.

It is to to stop fencing of stolen property.
Salvage yards as well, because thieves strip wiring and plumming from houses.
Where economies become depressed and unemployment goes up, theft does as well.

The article is not very informative.
The law may not be as inclusive as they state it to be.

i understand about keeping records and whatnot because of theft, but what difference does it make if you use cash or not? i have always been able to go into any pawn shop in any state and purchase something with cash.......and we have pawned things in at least 3 different states and were given cash.....so im not understanding this at all.

**bart5050** · 10-12-2011, 03:45 PM

Originally Posted by KellyD

i understand about keeping records and whatnot because of theft, but what difference does it make if you use cash or not? i have always been able to go into any pawn shop in any state and purchase something with cash.......and we have pawned things in at least 3 different states and were given cash.....so im not understanding this at all.

I don't either.
As presented in the link it looks like unenforcable bs.
The link is not a vetted news report.
It might just be bs.
I am sure you could check the laws of that state and find out.
I would fact check if it was of more interest to me.

**bethabara9** · 10-12-2011, 07:18 PM

Well, rather than speculate. go to the state senate page and try to find it.

2010 Regular Legislative Session

I believe it is act 195 HB 389 I did try to find it but I allocated 10 minutes to the search and growled and got out. I hate searching for bills, since THEY make it a total pain in the ass to find anything. (same where I work, archaic systems, remember, most of these folks still rely on pencils....that's how computer savvy our politicians are...)

B'