reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
RI Gen L § 6-13-3 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 6 - Commercial Law – General Regulatory Provisions|Chapter 6-13 - Unfair Sales Practices|Section 6-13-3 - Penalty for advertising or sale to injure competitors or destroy competition.

§ 6-13-3. Penalty for advertising or sale to injure competitors or destroy competition.Any retailer, who, with intent to injure competitors or destroy competition, advertises, offers to sell, or sells at retail any item of merchandise at less than cost to the retailer, or any wholesaler who, with intent as previously mentioned, advertises, offers to sell, or sells at wholesale any item of merchandise at less than cost to the wholesaler, shall, if the offender is an individual, be punished by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars ($500) or by imprisonment for not less than one month nor more than one year, or both; or, if the offender is a corporation, by a fine as previously mentioned. Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, as it pertains to a Class A or a Class B distributor of tobacco, any offense of this title shall be punished by a fine of not more than five thousand dollars ($5,000) for a first offense; a fine of not more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000) and a license suspension of not more than fourteen (14) calendar days for a second offense; and a fine of not more than twenty thousand dollars ($20,000) and a license suspension or revocation for a third offense.History of Section.P.L. 1939, ch. 671, § 2; G.L. 1956, § 6-13-3; P.L. 2005, ch. 348, § 1; P.L. 2014, ch. 528, § 9.
RI Gen L § 6-13-4 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 6 - Commercial Law – General Regulatory Provisions|Chapter 6-13 - Unfair Sales Practices|Section 6-13-4 - Below-cost sales as evidence of intent.

§ 6-13-4. Below-cost sales as evidence of intent.Evidence of any advertisement; offer to sell; or sale of any item of merchandise by any retailer or wholesaler at less than cost to him or her, as defined in this chapter, shall be prima facie evidence of intent to injure competitors or destroy competition.History of Section.P.L. 1939, ch. 671, § 2; G.L. 1956, § 6-13-4; P.L. 2014, ch. 528, § 9.
RI Gen L § 6-13-5 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 6 - Commercial Law – General Regulatory Provisions|Chapter 6-13 - Unfair Sales Practices|Section 6-13-5 - Sales exempt from chapter.

§ 6-13-5. Sales exempt from chapter.This chapter shall not apply with respect to advertising or offering to sell or selling, at retail or at wholesale, as the case may be, if done:(1) In an isolated transaction and not in the usual course of business;(2) Where merchandise is sold in bona fide clearance sales, if advertised or offered for sale as such or marked and sold as such, or where merchandise is marked down in an effort to sell the merchandise after bona fide efforts to sell the merchandise prior to the markdown;(3) Where perishable merchandise must be sold promptly in order to forestall loss;(4) Where merchandise is imperfect or damaged or its sale is being discontinued, if advertised or offered for sale as such or marked and sold as such;(5) Where merchandise is advertised or offered for sale or sold upon the final liquidation of any business;(6) Where merchandise is advertised or offered for sale or sold for charitable purposes or to relief agencies;(7) Where merchandise is sold on contract to any department, board, or commission of this state, or of any of its political subdivisions, or to any institution maintained thereby; or(8) Where merchandise is advertised or offered for sale or sold by any fiduciary or other officer acting under the order or direction of any court.History of Section.P.L. 1939, ch. 671, § 3; G.L. 1956, § 6-13-5; P.L. 2014, ch. 528, § 9.
RI Gen L § 6-13-6 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 6 - Commercial Law – General Regulatory Provisions|Chapter 6-13 - Unfair Sales Practices|Section 6-13-6 - Enforcement of chapter.

§ 6-13-6. Enforcement of chapter.Upon the complaint of any person, the superior court shall have jurisdiction to restrain and enjoin any act forbidden or declared illegal by any provisions of this chapter and it shall be the duty of the attorney general of this state to enforce and restrain the violation of the sections of this chapter.History of Section.P.L. 1939, ch. 671, § 4; G.L. 1956, § 6-13-6; P.L. 2014, ch. 528, § 9.
RI Gen L § 6-13-7 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 6 - Commercial Law – General Regulatory Provisions|Chapter 6-13 - Unfair Sales Practices|Section 6-13-7 - Conflict with other law.

§ 6-13-7. Conflict with other law.Whenever the application of any provisions of any other law of this state conflicts with the application of any provision of this chapter then this chapter shall prevail.History of Section.P.L. 1939, ch. 671, § 5; G.L. 1956, § 6-13-7.
RI Gen L § 6-13-8 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 6 - Commercial Law – General Regulatory Provisions|Chapter 6-13 - Unfair Sales Practices|Section 6-13-8 - Severability.

§ 6-13-8. Severability.If any of the provisions of this chapter, or the application of any provision to any person or circumstance, shall be held invalid, the remainder of this chapter, or the application of the provisions to persons or circumstances other than those to which it is held invalid, shall not be affected thereby.History of Section.P.L. 1939, ch. 671, § 6; G.L. 1956, § 6-13-8.
RI Gen L § 6-13-9 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 6 - Commercial Law – General Regulatory Provisions|Chapter 6-13 - Unfair Sales Practices|Section 6-13-9 - Retail sales of electrical appliances.

§ 6-13-9. Retail sales of electrical appliances.Any person who shall sell any electrical appliance at retail at a price in excess of fifty dollars ($50.00) shall conspicuously note on any bill of sale any model year designated by the manufacturer of the electrical appliance.History of Section.P.L. 1970, ch. 180, § 1.
RI Gen L § 6-13-10 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 6 - Commercial Law – General Regulatory Provisions|Chapter 6-13 - Unfair Sales Practices|Section 6-13-10 - Unsolicited goods.

§ 6-13-10. Unsolicited goods.The receipt of unsolicited goods, wares, or merchandise through the mail or otherwise shall for all purposes be deemed an unconditional gift to the recipient who may use or dispose of the unsolicited goods, wares, or merchandise in any manner he or she sees fit without any obligation on his or her part to the sender.History of Section.P.L. 1970, ch. 193, § 1.
RI Gen L § 6-13-11 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 6 - Commercial Law – General Regulatory Provisions|Chapter 6-13 - Unfair Sales Practices|Section 6-13-11 - Discount price advertisement.

§ 6-13-11. Discount price advertisement.It shall be unlawful to use, communicate, or publish any advertisement that states that an item or product is being sold or offered for sale at below the regular price or at a percentage off the regular price without posting the regular price at the point of purchase. Whenever an item or product is advertised for sale at below the regular price or at a percentage off the regular price, the advertisement shall clearly state whether there is an additional charge for equipment or services that are reasonably necessary for the proper use of the product. Any person, firm, or corporation who or that shall violate the provisions of this section shall be punished by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars ($500).History of Section.P.L. 1977, ch. 87, § 1; P.L. 1986, ch. 212, § 1; P.L. 2014, ch. 528, § 9.
RI Gen L § 6-13-12.1 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 6 - Commercial Law – General Regulatory Provisions|Chapter 6-13 - Unfair Sales Practices|Section 6-13-12.1 - Donation of gift certificates.

§ 6-13-12.1. Donation of gift certificates.Any gift certificate/card as defined in § 6-13-12 that has been donated for fundraising purposes shall be exempt from the provisions of § 6-13-12 relating to expiration dates, provided, that the gift certificate/card clearly states that the gift certificate/card has been donated for charity purposes and is subject to a clearly defined expiration date not less than one year from the issuance of the gift certificate/card to the gift certificate/card recipient.History of Section.P.L. 2012, ch. 270, § 1; P.L. 2012, ch. 281, § 1; P.L. 2014, ch. 528, § 9.
RI Gen L § 6-13-13 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 6 - Commercial Law – General Regulatory Provisions|Chapter 6-13 - Unfair Sales Practices|Section 6-13-13 - Cash register windows - Obstruction of view.

§ 6-13-13. Cash register windows — Obstruction of view.It shall be unlawful to intentionally obstruct the view of any price being registered by a cash register or similar device, or the total cost of purchases, during a sale at retail of any goods or merchandise if the price is not visible to the consumer in another display on the same register or device. Any person, firm, or corporation in violation of the provisions of this section shall be punished by a fine of twenty-five dollars ($25.00). For the purpose of this section, an obstruction to the view of any price shall not be prima facie evidence of intent.History of Section.P.L. 1981, ch. 29, § 1.
RI Gen L § 6-13-14 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 6 - Commercial Law – General Regulatory Provisions|Chapter 6-13 - Unfair Sales Practices|Section 6-13-14 - Automatic lease renewal - Notice required.

§ 6-13-14. Automatic lease renewal — Notice required.(a) For purposes of this section, "automatic lease renewal" means a provision in a written lease of personal property providing that, unless the lessee gives written notice to the contrary, the lease shall be automatically renewed for an additional term at the end of the initial lease term or at the end of any subsequent lease term.(b) Subject to the exclusions stated in subsection (d) of this section, every lessor of personal property under a written lease containing an automatic lease renewal shall give written notice to the lessee not more than ninety (90) nor less than forty-five (45) days prior to the expiration of the lease term. The notice shall state the date upon which the lease term will expire and shall advise the lessee that the lease will be automatically renewed unless the lessee gives written notice to the contrary.(c) In the event that the lessor fails to give notice as required by subsection (b) of this section, the automatic lease renewal shall be voidable at the option of the lessee.(d) This section shall not apply to any lease having a term of less than one year. This section shall not apply to any lease wherein the fair market value of the property being leased exceeds one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) on the date the lease is executed.History of Section.P.L. 1985, ch. 480, § 1.
RI Gen L § 6-13-15 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 6 - Commercial Law – General Regulatory Provisions|Chapter 6-13 - Unfair Sales Practices|Section 6-13-15 - Prohibition against recording credit card or social security numbers on checks.

§ 6-13-15. Prohibition against recording credit card or social security numbers on checks.It shall be unlawful, during a sale at retail of any goods or merchandise, to record any credit card or all or part of a social security number obtained from a purchaser as a means of identification upon the check of the purchaser tendered for the sale. Any person, firm, or corporation that shall violate the provisions of this section shall be punished by a fine of not more than one hundred dollars ($100). This section does not prohibit any person from requesting production of, or recording, a credit card number as a condition for cashing or accepting a check, provided the person has agreed with the credit card issuer to cash or accept checks from card holders of the issuer; the issuer has agreed to guarantee card holder checks cashed or accepted by that person; and the card holder has given actual, apparent, or implied authority for the use of his or her card number in the manner and for the purpose described in this section.History of Section.P.L. 1993, ch. 351, § 1; P.L. 2011, ch. 57, § 1; P.L. 2011, ch. 69, § 1; P.L. 2014, ch. 528, § 9.
RI Gen L § 6-13-16 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 6 - Commercial Law – General Regulatory Provisions|Chapter 6-13 - Unfair Sales Practices|Section 6-13-16 - Prohibition against recording personal information in credit card transactions.

§ 6-13-16. Prohibition against recording personal information in credit card transactions.(a) No person, firm, partnership, or corporation that accepts credit cards for the transaction of business shall require the credit card holder to write or cause to be written on a transaction form any personal identification information, including, but not limited to, the credit card holder's address or telephone number, that is not required by the credit card issuer to complete the credit card transactions.(b) The credit card holder's address and telephone number may be required on a transaction form where: (1) this information is necessary for shipping, delivery, installation of purchased merchandise, consumer rental transactions, warranty, or for special orders; (2) authorization from the credit card issuer as to the availability of credit is required by the issuer to complete the credit card transaction; or (3) the person, firm, partnership, or corporation processes credit card transactions by mailing transaction forms to the designated bankcard center for settlement.(c) This section shall not preclude a person, firm, partnership, or corporation that accepts credit cards from requesting this personal identification and recording it, if it is provided by the card holder pursuant to that request.(d) Any person, firm, partnership, or corporation who or that shall violate the provisions of this section shall be punished by a fine of not more than one hundred dollars ($100).History of Section.P.L. 1993, ch. 351, § 1; P.L. 2014, ch. 528, § 9.
RI Gen L § 6-13-17 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 6 - Commercial Law – General Regulatory Provisions|Chapter 6-13 - Unfair Sales Practices|Section 6-13-17 - Requiring consumers to furnish social security numbers.

§ 6-13-17. Requiring consumers to furnish social security numbers.(a) Unless otherwise required by federal law, no person shall require that a consumer of goods or services disclose all or part of a social security number incident to the sale of consumer goods or services; provided, however, that:(1) Insurance companies and institutions licensed by the state or federal government for financial services may require applicants for those services to disclose their social security number;(2) Social security numbers may be required for the providing and billing of health care or pharmaceutical-related services, including the issuance of identification cards and account numbers for users of health care or pharmaceutical-related services; and(3) Disclosure may be required of a consumer as a condition of applying for a credit card for the purchase of goods or services.(b) Any person violating the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction, shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars ($500).(c) In any civil action alleging a violation of this section, the court may award damages, reasonable attorney's fees, and costs to a prevailing consumer and afford injunctive relief against any person or business that commits or proposes to commit a violation of this section.History of Section.P.L. 1993, ch. 435, § 1; P.L. 2011, ch. 57, § 1; P.L. 2011, ch. 69, § 1; P.L. 2014, ch. 528, § 9.
RI Gen L § 6-13-18 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 6 - Commercial Law – General Regulatory Provisions|Chapter 6-13 - Unfair Sales Practices|Section 6-13-18 - Check cashing discrimination.

§ 6-13-18. Check cashing discrimination.A business that willingly accepts personal checks from Rhode Island customers for goods or services shall be prohibited from refusing checks based solely on the geographic area in which the customer lives within the state of Rhode Island. Any person, firm, or corporation violating the provisions of this section shall be punished by a civil penalty of not more than one hundred dollars ($100) per violation.History of Section.P.L. 2001, ch. 196, § 1; P.L. 2014, ch. 528, § 9.
RI Gen L § 6-13-19 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 6 - Commercial Law – General Regulatory Provisions|Chapter 6-13 - Unfair Sales Practices|Section 6-13-19 - Requiring consumers to furnish social security numbers.

§ 6-13-19. Requiring consumers to furnish social security numbers.No person, firm, corporation, or other business entity that offers discount cards for purchases made at any business maintained by the offeror shall require that a consumer of goods who applies for a discount card furnish all or part of his or her social security number as a condition precedent to the application for the consumer discount card. No information obtained on the application or by use of a discount card can be sold or given to any other person, firm, corporation, or business entity, provided that the person, firm, corporation, or other business may: (a) disclose such information to its affiliates, to service providers that perform services for it, or as required by law; and/or (b) transfer such information in connection with the sale of its business operations.History of Section.P.L. 2004, ch. 311, § 1; P.L. 2005, ch. 408, § 1; P.L. 2011, ch. 57, § 1; P.L. 2011, ch. 69, § 1; P.L. 2014, ch. 528, § 9.
RI Gen L § 6-13-20 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 6 - Commercial Law – General Regulatory Provisions|Chapter 6-13 - Unfair Sales Practices|Section 6-13-20 - Rebate restrictions - prohibited.

§ 6-13-20. Rebate restrictions — prohibited.No person, firm, business, partnership or corporation that issues rebates to its customers in the course of their transactions of business shall restrict their use to one per household per item purchased; provided, however, that this section shall not apply to rebates on the sale of beverages.History of Section.P.L. 2006, ch. 627, § 2; P.L. 2007, ch. 138, § 1; P.L. 2007, ch. 270, § 1; P.L. 2014, ch. 528, § 9.
RI Gen L § 6-13.1-2 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 6 - Commercial Law – General Regulatory Provisions|Chapter 6-13.1 - Deceptive Trade Practices|Section 6-13.1-2 - Unlawful acts or practices.

§ 6-13.1-2. Unlawful acts or practices.Unfair methods of competition and unfair or deceptive acts or practices in the conduct of any trade or commerce are declared unlawful.History of Section.P.L. 1968, ch. 12, § 1.
RI Gen L § 6-13.1-3 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 6 - Commercial Law – General Regulatory Provisions|Chapter 6-13.1 - Deceptive Trade Practices|Section 6-13.1-3 - Interpretation.

§ 6-13.1-3. Interpretation.It is the intent of the legislature that in construing §§ 6-13.1-1 and 6-13.1-2 due consideration and great weight shall be given to the interpretations of the Federal Trade Commission and the federal courts relating to § 5(a) of the Federal Trade Commission Act. 15 U.S.C. § 45(a)(1), as from time to time amended.History of Section.P.L. 1968, ch. 12, § 1; P.L. 2014, ch. 528, § 10.
RI Gen L § 6-13.1-4 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 6 - Commercial Law – General Regulatory Provisions|Chapter 6-13.1 - Deceptive Trade Practices|Section 6-13.1-4 - Exemptions.

§ 6-13.1-4. Exemptions.(a) Nothing in this chapter shall apply to actions or transactions permitted under laws administered by the department of business regulation or other regulatory body or officer acting under statutory authority of this state or the United States.(b) For actions brought by the attorney general, the exemption in subsection (a) applies only if the person claiming the exemption shows that:(1) The person's business activities are subject to regulation by a state or federal agency; and(2) The activity or conduct is in compliance with orders, including insurance bulletins, or rules of, or a statute administered by, a federal or state government agency.History of Section.P.L. 1968, ch. 12, § 1; P.L. 2021, ch. 206, § 1, effective July 7, 2021; P.L. 2021, ch. 329, § 1, effective July 9, 2021.
RI Gen L § 6-13.1-5 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 6 - Commercial Law – General Regulatory Provisions|Chapter 6-13.1 - Deceptive Trade Practices|Section 6-13.1-5 - Restraining prohibited acts.

§ 6-13.1-5. Restraining prohibited acts.(a) Whenever the attorney general has reason to believe that any person is using, has used, or is about to use any method, act, or practice declared to be unlawful by § 6-13.1-2, and that proceedings would be in the public interest, the attorney general may bring an action in the name of the state against the person to restrain by temporary or permanent injunction the use of the method, act, or practice, upon the giving of appropriate notice to that person and to seek any other relief that may be appropriate.(b) The action may be brought in the superior court of the county in which the person shall dwell or be found; or have his or her principal place of business; or with consent of the parties; or if the person is a nonresident or has no principal place of business within this state or if the superior court shall not be in session in the counties previously said to be applicable, may be brought in the superior court of Providence County. The superior courts are authorized to issue temporary or permanent injunctions to restrain and prevent violations of this chapter and the injunctions shall be issued without bond.(c) The court may make any additional orders or judgments that may be necessary to restore to any person in interest any moneys or property, real or personal, that may have been acquired by means of any practice in this chapter declared to be unlawful, including the appointment of a receiver in any case where the superior court finds that the assets of a corporation are in danger of being misapplied, dissipated, wasted, or lost, or the revocation of a license or certificate authorizing that person to engage in business in this state, or both.(d) Actions under this chapter may be brought without regard to the pendency of criminal proceedings arising out of the same acts or practices and no action shall bar the institution of criminal proceedings arising out of the same acts or practices. No involuntary admission by any person in the action shall be admissible in any subsequent criminal proceeding.(e) Any person who violates the terms of an injunction issued under this section shall forfeit and pay to the state a civil penalty of not more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000) per violation. For the purposes of this section, the superior court of a county issuing an injunction shall retain jurisdiction, and the cause shall be continued, and in those cases the attorney general, acting in the name of the state, may petition for recovery of civil penalties and damages.History of Section.P.L. 1968, ch. 12, § 1; P.L. 1970, ch. 249, § 2; P.L. 2014, ch. 528, § 10; P.L. 2021, ch. 206, § 1, effective July 7, 2021; P.L. 2021, ch. 329, § 1, effective July 9, 2021.