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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Since You Asked: Wimer Dam fish salvage yields nada natives ... Possible links between dead Oregon man, missing women investigated ... Cemetery tour highlights drifters, saloon keepers ... Since You Asked: Wimer Dam fish salvage yields nada natives ... Possible links between dead Oregon man, missing women investigated ... Cemetery tour highlights drifters, saloon keepers ... OUR VIEW Our View: Adjusting for unintended consequences Comment MailTribune.com Writer Posted Feb. 25, 2015 at 12:01 AM Posted Feb. 25, 2015 at 12:01 AM What do you think? --> Have an opinion on this story? Send a letter to the editor at www.mailtribune.com/sendletter or email ... » Read more X What do you think? Have an opinion on this story? Send a letter to the editor at www.mailtribune.com/sendletter or email [email protected] . » Social News Owners of second-hand stores were caught by surprise by a new city ordinance requiring them to photograph everything they buy and submit it to police to help catch thieves and burglars trying to profit from their crimes. It was an unintended consequence of the new law, which was aimed mainly at pawn shops. It appears the City Council is willing to amend the ordinance, and it should do so quickly, before the new law takes effect next month. Pawn shops have long been places where thieves try to cash in their ill-gotten items. Pawn shop owners generally cooperate with police, but they, too, chafe under some of the documentation requirements. Second-hand stores, however, deal in many lower-cost items. One store owner says she may take in up to 10,000 separate items in a month, but her average sale price is only $1.12. Clearly, photographing all those items and then holding them for 15 days before they can be resold would be an unreasonable burden, and in the vast majority of cases wouldn't provide police with usable leads. On the other hand, police have a point when they note drug addicts will shoplift new clothing from retail stores and then sell it to second-hand stores for cash rather than return the items for store credit. So second-hand stores have a role to play in helping catch criminals, just not as active a role as a pawn shop. It should be a fairly simple matter to adjust the ordinance to apply only to items of higher value, not to used clothing that may sell for a dollar or two. Based on comments from a council member and police Chief Tim George, it appears they are more than willing to work with the stores to make sure the law is reasonable. Better late than never. MailTribune.com Writer Posted Feb. 25, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501