Law Bans Cash for Second Hand Transactions

[SlyPokerDog]

Cold hard cash. It's good everywhere you go, right? You can use it to pay for anything.

But that's not the case here in Louisiana now. It's a law that was passed during this year's busy legislative session.

House bill 195 basically says those who buy and sell second hand goods cannot use cash to make those transactions, and it flew so far under the radar most businesses don't even know about it.

"We're gonna lose a lot of business," says Danny Guidry, who owns the Pioneer Trading Post in Lafayette. He deals in buying and selling unique second hand items.
"We don't want this cash transaction to be taken away from us. It's an everyday transaction," Guidry explains.

Guidry says, "I think everyone in this business once they find out about it. They're will definitely be a lot of uproar."

The law states those who buy or sell second hand goods are prohibited from using cash. State representative Rickey Hardy co-authored the bill.

Hardy says, "they give a check or a cashiers money order, or electronic one of those three mechanisms is used."

Hardy says the bill is targeted at criminals who steal anything from copper to televisions, and sell them for a quick buck. Having a paper trail will make it easier for law enforcement.

"It's a mechanism to be used so the police department has something to go on and have a lead," explains Hardy.

Guidry feels his store shouldn't have to change it's ways of doing business, because he may possibly buy or sell stolen goods. Something he says has happened once in his eight years.

"We are being targeted for something we shouldn't be."

Besides non-profit resellers like Goodwill, and garage sales, the language of the bill encompasses stores like the Pioneer Trading Post and flea markets.

Lawyer Thad Ackel Jr. feels the passage of this bill begins a slippery slope for economic freedom in the state.

"The government is placing a significant restriction on individuals transacting in their own private property," says Ackel.

Pawn shops have been forced to keep records of their clients for years. However under this bill they are still allowed to deal in cash.

http://www.klfy.com/story/15717759/second-hand-dealer-law

 

[julius]

So you can't pay cash for a car you buy on craigslist?

I get the logic behind it, but it's pretty idiotic.

 

[Further]

I'm interested to see how this actually impacts theft and business. A law like that would not affect me since any time I would buy second hand, or sell second hand, I would have no problem with a money order/check/plastic, but I can certainly see that it could be an added hassle.

 

[barfo]

The stated reason seems a little bit of a stretch, but if they were doing it so that they could collect sales taxes, it might make sense.

barfo

 

[MARIS61]

I believe it is un-Constitutional for a state to limit in any way the use of legal tender by citizens. Louisianna in particular has an enormous number of citizens who simply cannot afford to maintain a checking account or credit card, and government has no right to demaqnd they do so.

This is clearly an effort by pawns in government to force citizens to use banks and pay their rapacious fees.

 

[Further]

Barfo, you are probably correct. I did not think of that, but as soon as you said it, I felt foolish for not seeing it earlier.

 

[MARIS61]

Hardy says the bill is targeted at criminals who steal anything from copper to televisions, and sell them for a quick buck. Having a paper trail will make it easier for law enforcement.

"It's a mechanism to be used so the police department has something to go on and have a lead," explains Hardy.]

What a naive tool.

Criminals don't use their own ID, their own credit cards, their own checking accounts... Hasn't this moron heard identity theft is one of America's most common crimes?