SPRINGFIELD, Mass (WGGB) — Putting pawn shops to the test, ABC40 entered one local store as a customer to make a deal and show how new regulations are working.
Springfield’s so called “pawn shop ordinance” was the center of heated debate the past few years in the city council. The whole issue began when the former ordinance was made less stringent, mostly through the work of former Council President James Ferrera. Without the police being made aware, the number of days that pawn shops had to hold on to items before selling them was lowered from 30 days to 10 days.