ASSEMBLY, No. 2578

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

INTRODUCED DECEMBER 16, 1996

By Assemblymen WISNIEWSKI and ZISA

An Act concerning advertisements of merchandise and supplementing P.L.1960, c.39 (C.56:8-1 et seq.).

    Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

    1.    It shall be an unlawful practice for any person to advertise merchandise for sale without providing in that advertisement the address and the telephone number of the person advertising the merchandise.

    2.    This act shall take effect on the 60th day following enactment.

STATEMENT

    This bill provides that it is an unlawful practice under the consumer fraud law, P.L.1960, c.39 (C.56:8-1 et seq.), for any person to advertise merchandise for sale without providing in that advertisement the address and the telephone number of the person advertising the merchandise.

    Violators are subject to the penalties set forth in the consumer fraud law. These penalties may include a fine of no more than $7,500 for a first offense and no more than $15,000 for any subsequent offense. In addition, the Attorney General is authorized to seek and obtain in a summary action an injunction prohibiting any violator from continuing to engage in the unlawful practice.

Requires advertisements of merchandise to include the addresses and telephone numbers of those businesses advertising the merchandise.