The bill seeks to enhance consumer protection and fair trade practices by significantly increasing penalties and fees associated with the weighing, measuring, labeling, packaging, and inspection of commodities and commercial products. It recognizes that many existing penalties have not been updated for decades, proposing to raise the minimum fines for first offenses from $50 to $100 and for subsequent offenses from $500 to $1,000. Additionally, the bill allows the Superintendent of Weights and Measures to adjust fees through rulemaking to better align with enforcement and administrative costs. Specific amendments include raising the fine for failing to correct defective weights from $100 to $200 and increasing penalties for other infractions, with fines now ranging from $250 to $1,000 depending on the violation.

Moreover, the bill introduces new requirements for businesses involved in the sale or lease of weights and measures, mandating written statements to local superintendents within ten days of transactions. It establishes a new annual licensing fee structure, increasing fees for certain businesses and introducing a fee for those engaged solely in the repair of weighing and measuring devices. The overall aim of the bill is to modernize the regulatory framework, ensuring that penalties and fees reflect current economic conditions, thereby promoting compliance and enhancing the accuracy and reliability of commercial measurement practices.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 51:1-54.3, 51:1-128, 51:1-131, 51:4-26, 51:4-38, 51:6A-3, 51:10-13, 51:10-19, 51:11-9, 51:11-22