Article 16C - Unlawful Sale of Household Appliances


      (720 ILCS 5/Art. 16C heading)
ARTICLE 16C. UNLAWFUL SALE OF HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCES

    (720 ILCS 5/16C‑1) (from Ch. 38, par. 16C‑1)
    Sec. 16C‑1. Definitions. For purposes of this Article the following words and phrases have the following meaning:
    (1) "commercial context" means a continuing business enterprise conducted for profit by any person whose primary business is the wholesale or retail marketing of household appliances, or a significant portion of whose business or inventory consists of household appliances kept or sold on a wholesale or retail basis.
    (2) "household appliance" means any gas or electric device or machine marketed for use as home entertainment or for facilitating or expediting household tasks or chores. The term shall include but not necessarily be limited to refrigerators, freezers, ranges, radios, television sets, vacuum cleaners, toasters, dishwashers, and other similar household items.
    (3) "manufacturer's identification number" means any serial number or other similar numerical or alphabetical designation imprinted upon or attached to or placed, stamped, or otherwise imprinted upon or attached to a household appliance by the manufacturer for purposes of identifying a particular appliance individually or by lot number.
(Source: P.A. 87‑435.)

    (720 ILCS 5/16C‑2) (from Ch. 38, par. 16C‑2)
    Sec. 16C‑2. (a) A person commits the offense of unlawful sale of household appliances when he or she knowingly, with the intent to defraud or deceive another, keeps for sale, within any commercial context, any household appliance with a missing, defaced, obliterated or otherwise altered manufacturer's identification number.
    (b) Violation of this Section is a Class 4 felony, if the value of the appliance or appliances exceeds $1,000 and a Class B misdemeanor if the value of the appliance or appliances is $1,000 or less.
    (c) No liability shall be imposed upon any person for the unintentional failure to comply with this Section.
(Source: P.A. 87‑435.)

    (720 ILCS 5/16C‑3) (from Ch. 38, par. 16C‑3)
    Sec. 16C‑3. Continuation of prior law. The provisions of this Article, insofar as they are the same or substantially the same as those of Article 16 of this Code shall be construed as a continuation of such Article 16 and not as a new enactment.
(Source: P.A. 87‑435.)