MDA Reports Weights and Measures Law Violations

ANNAPOLIS, MD (September 19, 2011) – The Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) Weights and Measures reported the following enforcement activity between July 12, 2011 and September 1, 2011.

•    Advanced Auto Parts #2294, Churchton – On July 14, MDA received $250 for a civil penalty assessed for price verification.

•    Office Depot, Clinton – On July 14, MDA received $500 for a civil penalty assessed for price verification.

•    Safeway #107, Greenbelt – On July 26, MDA received $500 for a civil penalty assessed for short weight.

•    Giant Food # 313, Germantown – On July 29, MDA received $750 for a civil penalty assessed for short weight.

•    Latino Market, Gaithersburg – On August 1, MDA received $250 for a civil penalty assessed for short weight.

•    Weis Market #129, Damascus – On August 2, MDA received $1,000 for a civil penalty assessed for short weight.

•    Staples #1169, Easton – On August 4, MDA received $500 for a civil penalty assessed for price verification.

•    Bestway Supermarket, Hyattsville – On August 4, MDA received $500 for a civil penalty assessed for short weight.

•    CVS #1468, Silver Spring – On August 4, MDA received $500 for a civil penalty assessed for price verification.

•    CVS #1445, Rockville – On August 4, MDA received $500 for a civil penalty assessed for price verification.

•    CVS #4411, Baltimore – On August 9, MDA received $250 for a civil penalty assessed for price verification.

•    Greenbelt Consumer’s CO-OP, Greenbelt – On August 15, MDA received $500 for a civil penalty assessed for short weight.

•    Advanced Auto Parts #9066, Silver Spring – On September 1, MDA received $250 for a civil penalty assessed for price verification.

Maryland weights and measures officials inspect and regulate devices used in determining the quantity of commodities as diverse as fuel oil, food products, livestock, grain, and precious metals. In Fiscal Year 2011, field staff conducted more than 37,500 inspections of commercial weighing and measuring devices, inspected and tested more than 9,200 individual lots of prepackaged commodities (representing more than 230,000 packages) offered for sale, and investigated more than 550 consumer complaints. For more information or to file a complaint, call 410-841-5790, or click here.

MDA’s Regulatory Information Center is designed to provide information to the public about enforcement actions the department takes in response to violations of state laws or regulations. This information includes administrative, civil and criminal enforcement actions.

For more than 35 years, MDA has been protecting consumers and the environment and ensuring fairness in the marketplace through enforcement of the law. MDA strives for swift resolution to violations of the laws in the Agriculture Article and the deterrence of future violations by the regulated community.

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