“It’s almost getting to be that way,” says Romaine Johnson, manager of Antiques and Treasures Downtown. “I don’t think they’re asked about how many tattoos they have, where they’re at on their body, how much real estate they own, and what their medical history is … all that to be an antique dealer, it’s ridiculous.”

But, that’s the way it has been since last September, when the Reno business license division sent letters to antique mall owners informing them their vendors must have privileged business licenses.

“Those are the licenses for pawn shops, massage parlors and dancing girls,” says Gay Elliker, owner of Tanners Marketplace. “How antique dealers fit into that, I don’t know.”

Under state law, those having to apply for privileged business licenses are subject to greater scrutiny because they deal in secondhand goods that could be stolen. That means filling out a four-page application, which requires providing such information as how many bank accounts an applicant has, how much money is in each account; general health questions, including the number and location of tattoos; how much real estate is owned, and related “security questions.” Not only do some applicants have to wait up to 10 weeks for the application to clear all government channels, but the total process can cost $1,800-2,000, according to long-time antique dealer Marvin Jacobson.

“I have really no idea why they would do this,” Jacobson said. “Most of us are retired and we only do this to make a few bucks to supplement our income. For many of us, it’s a chance to see old friends, and just to be out in the marketplace.”

Deputy city attorney Matthew Jensen said the city is only following the law. “We’re only doing what the state law requires,” he says. “Our enforcement has been consistent. The state is requiring every city in Nevada that is involved in such transactions to be fingerprinted … it’s that simple.”

The Nevada General Assembly made changes in the law last year, according to Reno Mayor Bob Cashell. “Down south in Las Vegas they had some problems with some unscrupulous antique dealers selling stuff that was hot,” Cashell said. “I admit, some of us slept through that bill, and it went right through. We didn’t even know anything about it.”

But, no other city in Nevada is requiring the same from its antique owners. It is because the city attorney office and the Reno business licensing division is interpreting the state law differently than other Nevada municipalities.

Several owners are pulling out of Reno and going to Sparks, about six miles east of town where they can be an antique dealer for about $55 dollars a year.

Not only are antique dealers moving out of town. A trade show featuring antique glass and homemade buttons recently moved from Reno to Sparks after Reno licensing officials told her that her vendors would have to be fingerprinted and submit to the extensive and costly criminal background check.

Jill Biggie, a retired school teacher, said she canceled her Western buttons show and 200-250 room nights at the Holiday Inn Reno and now is working with the Nugget in Sparks. If that fails, she told the Associated Press, she would take her show to Sacramento.

She and other antique dealers are questioning why the Reno business licensing division exempted recent automotive swap meet vendors from the same police background check.

“If my feet are being held to the fire and others aren’t, I’m really going to be very upset,” she said. “I’m just devastated.”

Elliker, owner of Tanners Marketplace, also cancelled the April 26-27 Tanner’s Antique and Collectible Fair at the Reno Livestock Events Center, saying the city might well have put her out of business by requiring the background checks.

“I put my application in and they (the city’s licensing division) told me I had to get all my dealers – that’s 60 dealers – fingerprinted,” she said. “They would all have to fill out this paperwork and jump through all the hoops. My dealers said, ’we love to come to Reno, we love the food, we love the gaming, and we love the atmosphere, but we don’t need this hassle. There’s other shows to do.’”

This is the first time Elliker, who has been promoting the show four times a year for eight years, was confronted with the new regulations.

On April 23, the city council decided to review the licensing procedure, and declared a moratorium on any new applications. “Our city council and (legal) staff will further research our interpretation of the law,” attorney Jensen said.

“It’s too little too late for me,” Elliker says. “They say we’ll be on their agenda in two weeks … we’ll wait and see.”

The last several months has also all but ruined business at All “R” Yesterdays mall in Reno.

“We had about 27 dealers last fall before this happened,” said owner Arlene Schier, who has been a local antique dealer for 20 years. “Now, we’re down to maybe 10 people … we’re losing our business slowly but surely.”

Reno Mayor Cashell said he has asked the Nevada Attorney General’s office for clarification on the new state law. “But, I think I already know the answer to that,” he said. Short of that, he said there may be time to get a bill into the General Assembly.

“We’ve had a little hiccup here, I admit that,” he said. “But we’re working with the antique dealers … we love antiques here.”

Associated Press contributed