People wanting to resell mobile phones in St. Louis would face tough new restrictions under a newly proposed ordinance.
Mayor Francis Slay and Alderman Craig Schmid announced the legislation in a news release Friday.
It would require anyone who buys and resells cell phones to obtain a second-hand dealers license from the city. They'd also need to record the phone's unique identity number and obtain detailed information on sellers, including their names and even their thumbprints. The information would be put into a database that allows authorities to track the sale of goods that are frequently stolen.
Officials say that while the number of larcenies is down in St. Louis, cell phone thefts and robberies are up.
Resellers who violate the ordinance would face a fine of up to $500.
