R.I. Gen. Laws § 19-26-8: Ascertainment of ownership of articles pawned.

No pawnbroker shall knowingly take from any apprentice, servant, or employee any article or thing offered by the apprentice, servant, or employee in pledge without first ascertaining that the article or thing is the property of the person so offering it for sale. For every violation of this section the pawnbroker shall be fined not exceeding one hundred dollars ($100).