Requires car washes to disclose when promotions expire as well as any costs which will be incurred upon the expiration of such promotion and how often such costs will be incurred upon someone taking part in such promotion.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A6957A
SPONSOR: Dinowitz TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the general business law, in relation to requiring car
washes to disclose when promotions expire
PURPOSE:
To provide additional transparency and protections to consumers by
requiring car washes to disclose when a promotion expires as well as
additional costs upon expiration.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section one of the bill adds a new § 399-eee to the general business
law. This would require car washes to clearly state when a promotion
will expire and the costs associated with such promotions. Car washes
will also be required to conspicuously post notice of such information
on a board or other visible place in view of consumers when advertising
a promotion. The section also stipulates that violations are punishable
by a fine of up to five hundred dollars for each violation.
Section 2: Sets the effective date.
JUSTIFICATION:
A 2023 consumer alert published by New York Attorney General Letitia
James is the latest report of discriminatory pricing practices in which
consumers are charged increased prices under the guise of advertised
"specials." Such illegal practices erode the trust of consumers in the
services rendered by law-abiding businesses. This bill provides addi-
tional protections to consumers in New York State by requiring clear
communication of pricing information so that they can make informed
financial decisions.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2023: A.6957 - Referred to Consumer Affairs & Protection
2022: S.9259 - Referred to Consumer Protection
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall have
become a law.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
6957--A
2023-2024 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
May 9, 2023
___________
Introduced by M. of A. DINOWITZ -- read once and referred to the Commit-
tee on Consumer Affairs and Protection -- recommitted to the Committee
on Consumer Affairs and Protection in accordance with Assembly Rule 3,
sec. 2 -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as
amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend the general business law, in relation to requiring car
washes to disclose when promotions expire
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The general business law is amended by adding a new section
2 399-eee to read as follows:
3 § 399-eee. Car wash promotion disclosure. 1. For the purposes of this
4 section, the term "car wash" means any individual, partnership, corpo-
5 ration, limited liability company, joint venture, association, or other
6 business entity that engages in the cleaning of vehicles, including
7 washing, detailing, drying, polishing, vacuuming or otherwise providing
8 cosmetic care to vehicles.
9 2. Car washes shall clearly state when a promotion will expire as well
10 as any costs which will be incurred upon the expiration of such
11 promotion and how often such costs will be incurred upon someone taking
12 part in such promotion.
13 3. Car washes shall conspicuously post notice of such information on a
14 board or other visible place in view of consumers when advertising a
15 promotion. If the car wash advertises such promotion online it shall
16 also post such notice within such advertisement, coupon or promotion
17 information.
18 4. Any car wash which fails to comply with this section shall be
19 assessed a civil penalty not to exceed five hundred dollars for each
20 violation.
21 § 2. This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall
22 have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07159-04-4
