Section 438:40 Offenses and Penalties.


   I. It shall be unlawful for any person to:
      (a) Use or have in possession for the purpose of using for any commercial purpose specified in RSA 438:10, sell, offer, or expose for sale or hire, or have in possession for the purpose of selling or hiring, an incorrect weight or measure or any device or instrument used to or calculated to falsify any weight or measure.
      (b) Use or have in possession for the purpose of current use for any commercial purpose specified in RSA 438:10, a weight or measure that does not bear a seal or mark such as is specified in RSA 438:14, unless such weight or measure has been exempted from testing by the provisions of RSA 438:10 or by a rule of the commissioner adopted under the authority of RSA 438:8 or unless the device has been replaced in service as provided by a rule of the commissioner adopted under the authority of RSA 438:8.
      (c) Dispose of any rejected or condemned weight or measure in a manner contrary to law or rule.
      (d) Remove from any weight or measure, contrary to law or rule, any tag, seal, or mark placed thereon by the appropriate authority.
      (e) Sell, or offer or expose for sale, less than the quantity represented of any commodity, thing, or service.
      (f) Take more than the quantity he represents of any commodity, thing, or service, when, as buyer, he furnishes the weight or measure by means of which the amount of the commodity, thing, or service is determined.
      (g) Keep for the purpose of sale, advertise, or offer or expose for sale, or sell any commodity, thing, or service in a condition or manner contrary to law or rule.
      (h) Use in retail trade, except in the preparation of packages put up in advance of sale and of medical prescriptions, a weight or measure that is not so positioned that its indications may be accurately read and the weighing or measuring operation observed from some position which may reasonably be assumed by a customer.
      (i) Use commercially any device which has not been licensed in accordance with RSA 438:7, VI.
      (j) Violate any provision of RSA 438 or of the rules adopted under the provisions of RSA 438.
   II. Any person who, by himself or by his servant or agent, recklessly performs any act prohibited, other than by rule, under this chapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. Any individual, acting as the servant or agent of another person, who knowingly performs any act prohibited, other than by rule, under this chapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. A subsequent violation of this chapter perpetrated by anyone other than a natural person shall be a felony.
   III. Any person who, by himself or by his servant or agent, or as the servant or agent of another person violates any rule adopted under RSA 438:8 shall be guilty of a violation.
   IV. In addition to any other penalty imposed under this chapter, any person who violates any provision of RSA 438, or any rule or order of the commissioner, may be subject to the imposition of an administrative fine levied by the commissioner, not to exceed $1,000 for each violation.

Source. 1985, 72:1. 1989, 324:15, 16. 1990, 217:1. 1994, 100:7, eff. July 10, 1994.