Shrygue
April 18th, 2007, 21:06
via Kotaku (http://kotaku.com/gaming/the--law/second-hand-games-crackdown-253241.php)
In Taylor, Michigan, Officials are trying to make retailers of used gaming equipment to take sellers' fingerprints and identity details. The proposed statute went before their City Council yesterday and would result in $500 in fines and up to 90 days in prison for retailers who do not comply.
The statute is supposed to lower the rate of crimes related to video games, according to Taylor's director of police services, Jac Desrosiers:
"It tightens up the whole process. We're doing this because there are instances where those type of items are stolen from homes, and we want to make it harder for thieves. ... There are games out now or video game systems that cost several hundred dollars. If you had a burglary and they take it to one of these chains, they could get $50-$100."
Fingerprinting and showing forms of identification are already standard process at places like pawn shops, but this law seems a little overkill for trade-ins that are usually worth less than $20.
In Taylor, Michigan, Officials are trying to make retailers of used gaming equipment to take sellers' fingerprints and identity details. The proposed statute went before their City Council yesterday and would result in $500 in fines and up to 90 days in prison for retailers who do not comply.
The statute is supposed to lower the rate of crimes related to video games, according to Taylor's director of police services, Jac Desrosiers:
"It tightens up the whole process. We're doing this because there are instances where those type of items are stolen from homes, and we want to make it harder for thieves. ... There are games out now or video game systems that cost several hundred dollars. If you had a burglary and they take it to one of these chains, they could get $50-$100."
Fingerprinting and showing forms of identification are already standard process at places like pawn shops, but this law seems a little overkill for trade-ins that are usually worth less than $20.