[HISTORY: Adopted by the Suffolk County Legislature as indicated
in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable. Uncodified
sections of local laws amending these provisions are included at the
end of this article.]
[Adopted 3-3-1992 by L.L. No. 4-1992 (Ch. 328 of the 1985
Code)]
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
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.[1]
The County of Suffolk.[2]
The Director of the Office of the Consumer Affairs.[3]
[Added 3-9-1993 by L.L. No. 8-1993; amended 8-5-2008 by L.L. No.
37-2008]
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.
[Added 3-9-1993 by L.L. No. 8-1993; amended 8-5-2008 by L.L. No.
37-2008]
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.
Any store, including stores whose primary sales product is
merchandise of a general nature, selling stock-keeping units at retail.
A store which is not open to the general public but is reserved for
use by its members shall come within the provisions of this definition
unless the members must pay a direct fee to the store to qualify for
membership and the store is not required to collect sales tax on transactions
with members. Pursuant to this section, a retail store shall not include
any store which:
Has as its only full-time employee the owner thereof or the
parent, the spouse or the child of the owner or, in addition thereto,
not more than two full-time employees;
Had annual gross sales in a previous calendar year of less than
$3,000,000, unless the retail store is part of a network of subsidiaries,
affiliates or other member stores, under direct or indirect common
control, which, as a group, had annual gross sales in the previous
calendar year of $3,000,000 or more; or
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.
[Amended 3-9-1993 by L.L. No. 8-1993]
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.
[Amended 3-9-1993 by L.L. No. 8-1993]
Each item of a stock-keeping unit offered for sale.
Each group of items offered for sale of the same brand name,
quantity of contents, retail price and variety within the following
categories:
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.
[1]
Editor's Note: The definition of "Commissioner," which
immediately preceded this definition, was repealed 8-5-2008 by L.L.
No. 37-2008.
[2]
Editor's Note: The definition of "Department," which
immediately followed this definition, was repealed 8-5-2008 by L.L.
No. 37-2008.
[3]
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.
A.
The following stock-keeping items need not be item priced as provided in § 542-2 herein, provided that a shelf price adjacent to the display is maintained for such stock-keeping items:
(1)
Stock-keeping items which are under three cubic inches in size and
weigh less than three ounces and are priced under $0.50.
(2)
Items sold through a vending machine.
(3)
Milk.
(4)
Eggs.
(5)
Loose fresh produce.
(6)
Stock-keeping items which are offered for sale in single packages
and weigh three ounces or less.
(7)
Stock-keeping items offered as a sale item or weekend special.
(8)
Strained and junior-sized baby foods packaged in jars.
(9)
Single cans or bottles of soda where the selling price for different
flavors packaged in identical sizes or quantities is the same.
(10)
Stock-keeping items which are displayed for sale in bulk which
are either packaged for or by the consumer.
(11)
Snack foods such as cakes, gums, candies, chips and nuts offered
for sale.
(12)
Food sold for consumption on premises.
(13)
Frozen juice and ice cream.
(14)
Frozen food products sold for storage in the freezer in polyethylene
bags.
B.
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.
[Amended 3-9-1993 by L.L. No. 8-1993]
A.
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.
B.
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.
[Amended 8-5-2008 by L.L. No. 37-2008]
[Amended 3-9-1993 by L.L. No. 8-1993; 8-5-2008 by L.L. No. 37-2008]
A.
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.
B.
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.
A.
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.
B.
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.
C.
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.
[Amended 3-9-1993 by L.L. No. 8-1993]
[Amended 8-5-2008 by L.L. No. 37-2008]
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.
B.
Any such order shall be in writing and shall direct that the stock-keeping
item be removed from sale pending correction.
C.
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.
D.
If a stock-keeping unit consists of fewer than three items, failure
to item price one or more items shall constitute a violation.
[Added 8-5-2008 by L.L. No. 37-2008]
A.
Every retail store which uses a computer-assisted checkout system and which would otherwise be required to item price as provided in § 542-2 of this article may make an application, in writing, to the Director for a waiver of said item pricing requirement. A separate application shall be required for each store. Each application shall be subject to a nonrefundable waiver fee based upon the gross square footage of each store as set according to the following schedule:
|
Gross Store Size
(square feet)
|
Waiver Fee
| |
|---|---|---|
|
Under 3,000
|
$500
| |
|
Between 3,001 and 10,000
|
$1,000
| |
|
Between 10,001 and 30,000
|
$3,000
| |
|
Between 30,001 and 90,000
|
$5,000
| |
|
Over 90,000
|
$15,000
|
B.
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.
C.
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.
D.
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.
E.
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.
F.
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.
G.
As a condition of the waiver from item pricing pursuant to this section,
each store which accepts a waiver must agree to meet the following
requirements, and no regular or temporary waiver shall be granted
to a store which has not agreed to these requirements in writing:
(1)
The store shall designate and make available price check scanners
to enable consumers to confirm the price of stock-keeping items. These
price check scanners shall be in locations convenient to consumers
with signs of sufficient sized lettering to identify the units to
the consumers. Stores will submit their proposed sign and device locations
to the Director for approval; and
(2)
The store shall not charge any customer a price for any stock-keeping
items which exceeds the item, shelf, sale, or advertised price, whichever
is less; and
(3)
The store shall make prompt payment to consumers who have been overcharged
and shall correct all pricing errors identified by consumers.
A.
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.
B.
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.
C.
Such civil penalties may be recovered after a hearing on written
notice.
D.
For any additional violations during a subsequent inspection in a
twelve-month period, the above civil penalties shall be doubled.
A.
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.
[Amended 3-9-1993 by L.L. No. 8-1993]
B.
An assurance entered into pursuant to this article shall not be deemed
an admission of a violation unless it does so by its terms.
C.
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.
[Amended 3-9-1993 by L.L. No. 8-1993]
A.
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.
B.
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.
C.
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.
D.
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.
E.
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.
A.
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.
[Amended 3-9-1993 by L.L. No. 8-1993]
B.
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.
[Adopted 5-21-2002 by L.L. No. 13-2002 (Ch. 329 of the 1985
Code)]
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
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 County of Suffolk.
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 Suffolk County Office of Consumer Affairs.
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.
Any store, including stores whose primary sales product is
merchandise of a general nature sold at retail. A store which is not
open to the general public but is reserved for use by its members
shall come within the provisions of this definition unless the members
must pay a direct fee to the store to qualify for membership and the
store is not required to collect sales tax on transactions with members.
Pursuant to this section, a retail store shall not include any store
which:
Has as its only full-time employee the owner thereof or the
parent, the spouse or the child of the owner or, in addition thereto,
not more than two full-time employees;
Had annual gross sales in a previous calendar year of less than
$1,000,000, unless the retail store is part of a network of subsidiaries,
affiliates or other member stores, under direct or indirect common
control, which, as a group, had annual gross sales in the previous
calendar year of $1,000,000 or more; or
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.
A.
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.
B.
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.
A.
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.
B.
Such civil penalties may be recovered after a hearing on written
notice.
C.
For any additional violations during a subsequent inspection in a
twelve-month period, the above civil penalties shall be doubled.
A.
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.
B.
An assurance entered into pursuant to this article shall not be deemed
an admission of a violation unless it does so by its terms.
C.
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.
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.
B.
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.
C.
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.
D.
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.
E.
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.
A.
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.
B.
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.
