May 19, 2000
The Michigan Retailers Association (MRA) today praised the House Economic Development Committee's passage of legislation to fight fraud in flea market sales, as well as its move to stiffen penalties for violators.
House Bill 5677, sponsored by Rep. Valde Garcia (R-St. Johns) and strongly backed by MRA, would prohibit the sale of temperature-sensitive and dated products at flea markets and would require documentation of purchase for unused products sold in these settings. The committee toughened the maximum penalty for violations to 90 days imprisonment and a $1,000 fine. The original bill imposed only fines up to $100.
"Shoplifting rings have become more aggressive recently and often use flea markets as an outlet for reselling stolen goods. There is also concern about the sale of products such as baby food and non-prescription drugs in an unregulated environment," said MRA's Larry Meyer, Chief Executive Officer. "The legislation will protect consumers from potentially unsafe products and deter theft by eliminating a market for stolen goods."
Meyer urged the House and Senate to pass HB 5677 quickly. "This bill will give law enforcement officials the authority to shut down vendors operating without proper documentation," he said.
The Michigan Retailers Association is the unified voice of retailing in Michigan and the nation's largest state trade association of general merchandise retailers. MRA's more than 5,000 retail business members operate more than 12,000 stores across the state.