Louisiana bans CASH for secondhand goods transactions

Law Bans Cash for Second Hand Transactions - Acadiana's News Leader

Cold hard cash. It's good everywhere you go, right? You can use it to pay for anything.

But that's not the case here in Louisiana now. It's a law that was passed during this year's busy legislative session.

House bill 195 basically says those who buy and sell second hand goods cannot use cash to make those transactions, and it flew so far under the radar most businesses don't even know about it.

"We're gonna lose a lot of business," says Danny Guidry, who owns the Pioneer Trading Post in Lafayette. He deals in buying and selling unique second hand items.

"We don't want this cash transaction to be taken away from us. It's an everyday transaction," Guidry explains.

Guidry says, "I think everyone in this business once they find out about it. They're will definitely be a lot of uproar."

The law states those who buy or sell second hand goods are prohibited from using cash. State representative Rickey Hardy co-authored the bill.

Hardy says, "they give a check or a cashiers money order, or electronic one of those three mechanisms is used."

Hardy says the bill is targeted at criminals who steal anything from copper to televisions, and sell them for a quick buck. Having a paper trail will make it easier for law enforcement.

"It's a mechanism to be used so the police department has something to go on and have a lead," explains Hardy.

Guidry feels his store shouldn't have to change it's ways of doing business, because he may possibly buy or sell stolen goods. Something he says has happened once in his eight years.

"We are being targeted for something we shouldn't be."

Besides non-profit resellers like Goodwill, and garage sales, the language of the bill encompasses stores like the Pioneer Trading Post and flea markets.

Lawyer Thad Ackel Jr. feels the passage of this bill begins a slippery slope for economic freedom in the state.

"The government is placing a significant restriction on individuals transacting in their own private property," says Ackel.

Pawn shops have been forced to keep records of their clients for years. However under this bill they are still allowed to deal in cash.

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So in Louisiana, one cannot buy a car through a private seller or maybe even a used car at a dealer anymore with cash according to this law.This has to be unconstitutional. Last time I checked, every dollar bill printed by the Federal Govt includes the phrase, "Legal Tender for all debts, public and private." Sounds like something my state of California would come up with not Louisiana

 

Cash is legal tender for all debts public and private, this law simply will not hold up...

 

Yet another law with great intentions but horrible execution because the people writing the laws do not apply any common sense.

If this gets passed, now you will see instances of check fraud go through the roof because it's easy as cake to create bogus cashiers checks, money orders, etc.

This follows the same premise as gun restrictions. You make it harder for average law abiding citizens to go about their business while the bad guys continue to do that bad stuff. The Bad guys don't care what the law is, THEY'RE ALREADY BREAKING THE LAW BY STEALING THE STUFF.They will still find a way to buy and sell goods for cash regardless of what the law is.

 

X3

 

It did get passed. But is unconstitutional, it wont hold up.

 

The whole point of passing this law is a poor attempt to collect more tax revenue without raising taxes. Cash is untraceable. If you use a credit/debit card or a check, then it will be traceable to go after you for taxes. The only way to get around it will be to buy one of those reloadable debit cards and do your purchases with those. But like everyone said so far, the law will probably be overturned.

 

Sounds to me like a valid reason to ban credit/debit cards and checks.

 

Pretty sure private transactions can still be done with cash...

 

One reason why they are moving towards systems of payment with paper trails is so every transaction can and will be taxed. They'll tell you this is about tracking thieves .. which is a worthy effort. But it's also about stopping "under the table" transactions for sake of protecting the government take. In some ways I get that, because too many people are shirking their financial responsibilities to the nation .. and yes we all have that responsibility. But telling people they can't pay cash because you want to track them is a BAD BAD way to go about it. Because you can't force people to be responsible.

 

but how will I spend my Ameros?