(a) When a law enforcement officer has probable cause to believe that property in the possession of a pawnbroker at a pawnshop in the law enforcement officer’s jurisdiction has been misappropriated, the law enforcement officer may issue a police hold order that directs the pawnbroker not to release or dispose of the property until the police hold order terminates or a court orders the release or disposal.

Terms Used In Alaska Statutes 08.76.320

  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • Probable cause: A reasonable ground for belief that the offender violated a specific law.
  • property: includes real and personal property. See Alaska Statutes 01.10.060
(b) Unless a pawnbroker or the pawnbroker’s designee refuses to sign the police hold order, a police hold order begins when the pawnbroker or the pawnbroker’s designee receives the police hold order. If the pawnbroker or the pawnbroker’s designee refuses to sign the police hold order, the police hold order begins when the refusal occurs.
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