Urgent Collecting News:
Badge Collection Seized by Police
May 27th, 2006
Badgecollecting.com is receiving news that the Connecticut State Police seized a collection of 350 police badges from a collector. Apparently, a collector walked in to a CSP barracks looking for someone who might be interested in buying his collection. When he could not provide a VENDOR'S LICENSE and RECEIPTS for the badges, they were seized as stolen property.
First off, since when in America does a private person selling a personal item need a vendor's license? Does this mean that when you sell your lawnmower to your neighbor, you have to be a licensed vendor? What about E Bay, you would now need a license unless you want your items seized by your state police?
Secondly, are the Connecticut State Police THAT out of touch that they would believe the only way to possess a police badge is to steal it? What about other collectibles? When they come across a collector of antique police lights and sirens, will they seize that, thinking that the only way to possess them is to steal them? Or old billy clubs? Or even electric pole insulators. Will your state police seize them thinking that they must have all been stolen from a utility company?
I sincerely hope that this collector immediately retains a lawyer and begins legal action. I for one would be very willing to testify on his behalf that badge collecting is not only a large hobby but that mere possession of badges does not mean that they have to be stolen. And as for receipts, that is not the norm in this hobby. That would be akin to expecting to provide a receipt for quilt you bought at a garage sale.
This would be different story if the CSP knew of a collection of 350 badges that were stolen in a burglary and this guy showed up trying to sell them. But this does not appear to be the case. The CSP is sending out teletypes in order to prove the badges are stolen. Simply a fishing expedition by an agency that hasn't a clue about this hobby.
If you have any additional information on this situation, please contact badgecollecting.com. Meanwhile, if we hear any more on the subject, we will post it here.