Source: https://ecode360.com/14947161
Timestamp: 2019-04-20 08:30:23+00:00

Document:
§ 542-2 Item pricing required.
§ 542-7 Laser scanner accuracy inspection procedure.
§ 542-9 Waiver of requirements; fees.
§ 542-10 Penalties for offenses.
§ 542-11 Settlement or compromise of violations.
§ 542-13 Rules and regulations.
§ 542-15 Display of prices.
§ 542-16 Penalties for offenses.
§ 542-17 Settlement or compromise of violation.
§ 542-19 Rules and regulations.
Banking practices — See Ch. 314.
Dry-cleaning establishments — See Ch. 427.
Any electronic device, computer system or machine which determines the selling price of a stock-keeping item by interpreting its universal product code or by use of its price look-up function.
The Director of the Office of the Consumer Affairs.
The tag, stamp or mark affixed to a stock-keeping item which sets forth, in Arabic numerals, the retail price.
The Suffolk County Office of Consumer Affairs.
The capability of any checkout system to determine the retail price of a stock-keeping item by way of the manual entry into the system of a code number assigned to that particular unit by the retail store or by way of the checkout operator's consultation of a file maintained at the point of sale.
Engages primarily in the sale of food for consumption on the premises or in a specialty trade which the Director determines, by regulation, would be inappropriate for item pricing.
A stock-keeping item offered for sale for a period of seven days or less in a retail store at a price below the price for which the item is usually sold in such store. The Director may authorize, by regulation, a fourteen-day sale period for holidays such as Thanksgiving, Christmas, Passover and Easter.
Each item of a stock-keeping unit offered for sale.
Food, including all material, solid, liquid or mixed, whether simple or compound, used or intended for consumption by human beings or domestic animals normally kept as household pets, and all substances or ingredients to be added thereto for any purpose.
Napkins, facial tissue, toilet tissues and any disposable wrapping or container for the storage, handling or serving of food.
Detergents, soaps, cleaning agents and cleaning implements.
Nonprescription drugs, feminine hygiene products and health and beauty aids.
Any system of coding which entails electronic pricing.
Editor's Note: The definition of "Commissioner," which immediately preceded this definition, was repealed 8-5-2008 by L.L. No. 37-2008.
Editor's Note: The definition of "Department," which immediately followed this definition, was repealed 8-5-2008 by L.L. No. 37-2008.
Editor's Note: The definition of "inspector," which immediately followed this definition, was repealed 8-5-2008 by L.L. No. 37-2008.
Notwithstanding the provision of any local law or regulation to the contrary, every person who sells, offers for sale or exposes for sale in a retail store, located within the County of Suffolk, a stock-keeping unit that bears a universal product code shall disclose to the consumer the item price of each stock-keeping item as defined in § 542-1 of this article.
Stock-keeping items which are under three cubic inches in size and weigh less than three ounces and are priced under $0.50.
Items sold through a vending machine.
Stock-keeping items which are offered for sale in single packages and weigh three ounces or less.
Stock-keeping items offered as a sale item or weekend special.
Strained and junior-sized baby foods packaged in jars.
Single cans or bottles of soda where the selling price for different flavors packaged in identical sizes or quantities is the same.
Stock-keeping items which are displayed for sale in bulk which are either packaged for or by the consumer.
Snack foods such as cakes, gums, candies, chips and nuts offered for sale.
Food sold for consumption on premises.
Frozen juice and ice cream.
Frozen food products sold for storage in the freezer in polyethylene bags.
The provisions of this section may be subsequently modified or amended by order of the Director either by adding or deleting stock-keeping units from the list of exemptions or by further directing the manner in which the selling price of exempted stock-keeping units shall be posted.
No retail store shall charge a retail price for any exempt or nonexempt stock-keeping item which exceeds the lower of any item, shelf, sale or advertised price of such stock-keeping item. In the event that the price exceeds the lowest price a store is permitted to charge for a stock-keeping unit, the store shall be subject to a penalty as set forth in § 542-5 of this article.
In a store with a laser-scanning or other computer-assisted checkout system, a representative of the Office shall be permitted to compare the item, shelf, sale or advertised price of any one stock-keeping item within a stock-keeping unit sold in the store with the programmed computer price.
The provisions of this article shall be enforced by the Office. Upon presentation of appropriate credentials, a representative of the Office shall have the right to enter upon the premises of any retail store to make an inspection and to determine compliance with the provisions of this article.
Upon presentation of the appropriate credentials, a representative of the Office may compare the item, shelf or sale advertised price with the programmed computer price of stock-keeping items.
For the purposes of determining a store's compliance with the requirements of § 542-2 of this article, an inspection shall be conducted of a sample of no fewer than 25 stock-keeping units.
For the purposes of determining a violation of § 542-2 of this article, no item shall be cited more than once in a forty-eight-hour period.
With respect to the item price of any exempt item, the Director, in his or her discretion, may direct a retail store to post a sign in a conspicuous and unobstructed location in the manner and form prescribed by the Director.
For any inspection pursuant to § 542-4 of this article, the store representative shall afford a representative of the Office access to the test mode of the checkout system in use at that store or to a comparable function of said system and to the retail price information contained in a price look-up function.
The Director shall have the authority to issue a stop-removal order with respect to any stock-keeping unit being used, handled or offered for sale in violation of §§ 542-2, 542-3 and 542-4 of this article.
Any such order shall be in writing and shall direct that the stock-keeping item be removed from sale pending correction.
A violation pursuant to § 542-2 of this article shall be deemed to exist any time three or more items within a stock-keeping unit are found to be not properly item priced.
If a stock-keeping unit consists of fewer than three items, failure to item price one or more items shall constitute a violation.
Upon receipt of an application and fee as provided in Subsection A of this section, the Director shall cause to be conducted a scanner accuracy inspection of the store for which the application has been submitted. This inspection shall be in the manner prescribed by the Director. At stores with a gross size in excess of 10,000 square feet, a minimum of 100 stock-keeping units shall be checked at inspection. At stores with a gross size of 10,000 square feet or less, a minimum of 50 stock-keeping units shall be checked. If the number of stock-keeping units found to be in violation does not exceed 2% of all those stock-keeping units inspected, the Director shall grant to the applicant a one-year revocable waiver from the item pricing requirement. Any store with a current waiver shall be exempt from the requirements of § 542-2 of this Code.
In the event that total violations in excess of 2% are discovered in the inspection process, the Director shall not grant a waiver to the applicant. Such a store may, within five business days of being notified of the failure, request a second inspection. If the number of stock-keeping units found to be in violation during this second inspection does not exceed 2% of those stock-keeping units inspected, the Director shall grant to the applicant a one-year revocable waiver for the item pricing requirement.
Stores which fail the scanner accuracy inspection(s) must be in compliance with the requirements of this article within 30 days from the final date of failure. These stores may reapply for a waiver from item pricing requirements in accordance with Subsection A of this section.
Waivers from item pricing shall be valid for a period of one year from the date of issuance, except as set forth in Subsection F of this section, and shall expire on the last day of the 12th month of such issuance. Stores must reapply annually for renewal at the rates established in Subsection A of this section. The waiver fee and inspection shall be required for each annual renewal application, as required for an original waiver application.
In the event that the Director is unable to conduct an inspection pursuant to Subsection B of this section within 90 days of receipt of a complete waiver application and proper waiver fee, the Director shall grant a temporary waiver pending completion of the inspection. The Director shall cause said inspection to be completed as soon as practicable. If, upon completion, the inspection detects a violation rate of less than 2%, the Director shall issue a regular waiver with an expiration date of one year from the date of the temporary waiver. If the inspection detects a violation rate in excess of 2%, the temporary waiver shall be immediately revoked and the provisions of Subsection D shall apply.
The store shall make prompt payment to consumers who have been overcharged and shall correct all pricing errors identified by consumers.
Failure to comply with any provisions of this article.
Deliberate overcharging of any consumer.
Any person who fails to comply with the provisions of this article or any regulation or order promulgated hereunder, with the exception of § 542-6C, shall be subject to civil penalties of not more than $50 per violation, not to exceed $1,000 per inspection.
A person who fails to comply with the provisions of § 542-6C shall be subject to a civil penalty of not more than $150 per violation, not to exceed $1,000 per inspection.
Such civil penalties may be recovered after a hearing on written notice.
For any additional violations during a subsequent inspection in a twelve-month period, the above civil penalties shall be doubled.
In lieu of instituting or continuing a hearing to recover a civil penalty or penalties, the Director may release, settle or compromise any alleged violation by accepting written assurance of discontinuance of any act or practice in violation of this article.
An assurance entered into pursuant to this article shall not be deemed an admission of a violation unless it does so by its terms.
Violation of an assurance entered into pursuant to this article shall be treated as a violation and shall be subject to all the penalties provided therefor.
A hearing held on any alleged violation or violations of the provisions of this article shall be scheduled on a date not less than five business days after notification of such hearing, in writing, to the person involved. The hearing shall be conducted by an officer or employee designated by the Director for such purpose. The person conducting the hearing shall make a written determination. Such determination may be appealed to the Director who, after due deliberation, shall issue an order accepting, modifying or rejecting such determination.
Notice shall be served upon such person, either personally or by certified mail, and shall contain a concise statement of the facts constituting the alleged violation or violations, as well as setting forth the date, time and place the hearing will be held.
At the hearing conducted by the officer or employee designated by the Director, the Office shall be authorized to recover any penalty imposed as the result of a finding of a violation of the provisions of this article.
The person against whom the charges are pending has the right to be heard in his or her defense and to be represented by counsel or have counsel appear on his or her behalf, and such person or the attorney for such person shall have the right to call witnesses and produce evidence on behalf of such person.
For the purpose of this article, the Director, or any officer or employee designated by him or her, may administer oaths, take testimony, subpoena witnesses and compel the production of books, papers, records and documents pertinent to the subject of the investigation, pursuant to § C31-2B and C of the Suffolk County Charter.
The Director shall issue, promulgate and adopt such rules and regulations as he or she shall deem necessary and sufficient to carry out and implement the purpose of this article.
At least seven days' prior notice of such public hearing shall be published in the official newspapers of Suffolk County. A copy of the regulations actually adopted hereunder and any amendments thereto shall be filed in the office of the Clerk of the County Legislature.
Any electronic device, computer system or machine which determines the selling price of merchandise by interpreting its universal product code or by use of its price look-up function.
The Director of the Suffolk County Office of Consumer Affairs.
The Director of Weights and Measures or his or her agent, duly authorized to enforce the provisions of this article.
The capability of any checkout system to determine the retail price of any item by way of the manual entry into the system of a code number assigned to that particular unit by the retail store or by way of the checkout operator's consultation of a file maintained at the point of sale.
Engages primarily in the sale of food for consumption on the premises or in a specialty trade which the Director determines, by regulation, would be inappropriate for scanner pricing accuracy.
In any retail store located within the County of Suffolk with a laser-scanning or other computer-assisted checkout system or device, the price charged for an item shall be displayed on the automated device so that the price may be accurately read by the purchaser of the item from a reasonable customer position.
Any register, machine or any other device used by a retail store for the purpose of itemizing or totaling consumer sales shall display, on at least one side of said register, machine or device visible to the consumer, the cost of each item purchased plus the tax and total cost of all items purchased.
Any person who fails to comply with the provisions of § 542-15 of this article shall be subject to a civil penalty of not more than $150 per violation, not to exceed $1,000 per inspection.
For the purpose of this article, the Director, or any officer or employee designated by him or her, may administer oaths, take testimony, subpoena witnesses and compel the production of books, papers, records and documents pertinent to the subject of the investigation, pursuant to § C31-2B of the Suffolk County Charter.

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