The backtracking begins on Reading List pogrom

January 19, 2007
By Billy Dennis

From a press release from the Peoria Police Department:

This morning’s newspaper reported that the Peoria Police Department is requiring used book stores, as well as other retailers, to come into compliance with the Ordinance relating to second hand retailers. This is not the case. This Ordinance is designed to reduce the opportunity to fence or sale stolen property.

This ordinance has not been applied to used book stores and other small businesses, even though they may qualify by the “letter” of the ordinance. While the newspaper account is essentially accurate in that the affected business owners were informed of a pending change it failed to state that a correction had been made by Management in the Police Department prior to this morning’s article.

The Peoria Police Department has limited resources and does not have the ability to enforce all things at all times. Enforcement activities must be prioritized and those priorities must be based upon areas of greatest need and greatest impact. There has not been a demonstrated need in this area for any change in policy. We are not experiencing significant problems with stolen merchandise being sold at these types of retailers. Until a need arises there will be no changes in the manner of enforcement.

Sorry. Not good enough. “Until a need arises?” So while the police aren’t going to be behaving like little dictators, they reserve the right to, should the need arise.

What needs to happen is for the Peoria City Council to rewrite this law specifically removing book stores from this law that makes sense when applied to pawn shops.

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2 Responses to “ The backtracking begins on Reading List pogrom ”

  1. C. J. Summers on January 19, 2007 at 5:53 pm

    Yeah, this does nothing to help used book store owners. What are they supposed to do when the police come knocking once “a need arises”? Tell them that because they don’t normally enforce it, they haven’t been collecting the required information? That won’t fly. They’ll get tossed in the pokey. The law has got to be rewritten or the city will be most assuredly not business-friendly to book dealers.

  2. Michael Langley on January 19, 2007 at 7:47 pm

    The things that this ordanace would require of used book dealers we can not meet. My average book price is $5.00 and I sell plenty for less than that. This would put us out of business the day inforcement began. There is no way for us to meet the requirements period. Now all three used bookstores are left wondering if we should begin looking for space in the hights and move, or take the gamble of staying in Peoria. I myself have just signed a two year lease on additional space as we do our 2nd major expansion in my 1st year or so of having a shop in Peoria. I guess that for now that means I am stuck in Peoria keeping my fingers crossed. I agree with Billy this law needs to be removed from the books. I would also add that if stolen books ever were an issue I know that all three of shops would do what we could to help the police. It is worth noting that all three shops have been robbed (of money) so we have all felt the issue of crime. When Second Chance was robbed the owner had to be taken by ambulance to the ER he had been beaten so badly. I guess I got off easy as I only had a 45 to my head. I have several Cops as cusomers, this is not about Cops, its about a stupid law. That puts this issue at the feet of city council were it should be resolved.