75-55-13 - Lubricating oils.
§ 75-55-13. Lubricating oils.
It shall be unlawful to sell, offer or keep for sale, any lubricating oils, lubricants or mixtures of lubricants which are adulterated or falsely labeled in any particular. Reclaimed, recleaned, rerefined or previously used oils shall be plainly labeled and sold as such. The labeling and advertising appearing on any container used to store a previously used lubricating oil shall be strictly in accord with the kind of product contained therein. On the face of each sealed container containing a previously used motor or lubricating oil, the wording or sign used to indicate that the product has been previously used must be in well-balanced letters.
Labels on containers of reclaimed, recleaned, rerefined or recycled oil which meet the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) and American Petroleum Institute (API) classifications for current (one (1) of the previous two (2) chronological API service classifications) model year automotive engines shall be at least one-eighth (1/8) inch high on containers of one (1) gallon or less, and at least one-fourth (1/4) inch high on containers larger than one (1) gallon.
Reclaimed, recleaned, rerefined or previously used motor or lubricating oils, lubricants or mixtures of lubricants not meeting the classifications described in the preceding paragraph shall be labeled as follows: On one (1) quart containers the lettering shall not be less than three-eighths (3/8) inches high; on one-half (1/2) gallon containers the lettering shall be at least one-half (1/2) inch high; on one (1) gallon containers the lettering shall be at least three-fourths (3/4) inch high; and on five (5) gallon containers at least one (1) inch high; and on any storage can larger than five (5) gallons, a well-proportioned sign or lettering must appear with letters not less than two (2) inches high, indicating that the product has been previously used.
All tanks used for the storage of gasoline, alcohol blended fuel, other motor fuel, diesel fuel, kerosene or liquefied compressed gas, for wholesale or retail sales, shall be constructed and equipped in such manner as to allow the Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce or his agents and employees to safely take an accurate physical inventory of the contents of such tanks at all reasonable hours.
All above ground tanks, drums or other containers used to store previously used motor or lubricating oils, before being rerefined or reprocessed, shall be marked "used oil" on a contrasting background with well-balanced letters not less than two (2) inches high.
Any person guilty of violating any of the provisions of this section shall be subject to a fine of not less than One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) nor more than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) for the first offense, and for a second or subsequent such offense, such person shall be enjoined from selling or distributing previously used motor or lubricating oil in any manner in this state for a period of not less than one (1) year nor more than five (5) years, and any judge or chancellor now authorized to grant injunctions, shall grant an injunction without notice, enjoining such person from continuing in the business, as prescribed by this section.
Sources: Codes, 1942, § 5088; Laws, 1938, ch. 145; Laws, 1946, ch. 263, § 8; Laws, 1956, ch. 375, §§ 1, 2; Laws, 1969, Ex Sess, ch. 24, § 4; Laws, 1978, ch. 357, § 3; Laws, 1980, ch. 417, § 3; Laws, 1986, ch. 395, § 9; Laws, 1988, ch. 482, § 4; Laws, 1990, ch. 450, § 6; Laws, 1995, ch. 331, § 1; Laws, 1995, ch. 436, § 1, eff from and after July 1, 1995.