Craighead County, AR Business Licensing & Operations: Pawnbrokers (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Craighead County Code § 360.00
- State authority
- A.C.A. § 12-12-103
- Max fine
- $1,000.00, misdemeanor
- Reporting frequency
- Weekly, to Sheriff's Office
- Adopted
- Ord. 1997-018, June 23, 1997
Summary
Every pawn shop operating anywhere in unincorporated Craighead County, or anywhere in the county under § 360.00's jurisdiction clause, must keep detailed records of pawned items and file weekly transaction reports with the Sheriff. Noncompliance is a misdemeanor punishable by up to $1,000.
1) PURPOSE. ... That all pawn shops or pawn brokers shall be required to keep records, showing in detail, all property pawned with them and each item sold or leased to any person in order to promote the efficient enforcement of the criminal laws and to aid in criminal investigations. This requirement is in accordance with A.C.A. § 12-12-103. 2) REQUIREMENTS. That each and every person, firm or corporation, operating a pawn shop within Craighead County shall make available for inspection, the following items: ... b) Records showing in detail all property pawned with them and shall include a detailed description and record of each and every item pawned to any person and shall include the name, address and physical description of the person to whom such property was sold or leased. The Sheriff of Craighead County shall require weekly reports of all transactions for enforcement of this Ordinance to be provided to his office. ... 6) FAILURE TO COMPLY. That the failure of any pawn broker, owner(s) or operator of a pawn shop to comply with this ordinance shall be deemed a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be punished by a fine not more than $1,000.00.
Full Breakdown
§ 12-12-103. The purpose the Quorum Court wrote into the ordinance is explicit: to promote efficient enforcement of the criminal laws and aid criminal investigations, since pawn shops are a common outlet for stolen goods. Operators must make available for inspection every item on the premises, whether pawned, purchased, or held for any other reason, along with records that include a detailed description of each pawned item and the name, address and physical description of the person to whom property was sold or leased. Beyond keeping the records, pawnbrokers must proactively report: the Sheriff of Craighead County requires weekly reports of all pawn transactions to be delivered to his office.
The Sheriff or an authorized representative may enter any pawn shop building, structure, or premises in the county at reasonable times and for reasonable cause, after presenting proper credentials, to perform inspection duties. The ordinance's jurisdiction clause gives the Sheriff authority to enforce it against pawn shops anywhere in Craighead County, not only in the unincorporated area, which is unusual among the county's other ordinances.
Violations & Fines
A pawnbroker, owner, or operator who fails to comply with the recordkeeping, inspection, or weekly reporting requirements commits a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, faces a fine of not more than $1,000.00 per violation. The Sheriff's Office investigates and refers violations for prosecution.
Frequently Asked Questions
What records must a Craighead County pawn shop keep?
How often must a pawn shop report to the Sheriff?
Can the Sheriff inspect a pawn shop without notice?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Craighead County
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