Mississippi § 75-27-51 - Misrepresentation of price.

§ 75-27-51. Misrepresentation of price.

Whenever any commodity or service is sold, or is offered, exposed, or advertised for sale, by weight, measure, or count, the price shall not be misrepresented, nor shall the price be represented in any manner calculated or tending to mislead or deceive an actual or prospective purchaser. Whenever an advertised, posted, or labeled price per unit of weight, measure, or count includes a fraction of a cent, all elements of the fraction shall be prominently displayed and the numeral or numerals expressing the fraction shall be immediately adjacent to, of the same general design and style as, and at least one-half (1/2) the height and width of the numerals representing the whole cent; provided, however, the provisions of this section shall not apply to signs and requirements enumerated in Section 75-55-9, Mississippi Code of 1972. A person who is found guilty of the misrepresentation of the price of a commodity or the representation of a price in any manner calculated or tending to mislead or deceive an actual or prospective purchaser shall be assessed a civil penalty by the director or his designee in the amount of not less than One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) for the first offense and not less than One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) nor more than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) for each subsequent offense. Each violation shall constitute a separate offense. The commissioner or his designee shall afford the person an opportunity for a hearing to show cause why the penalty should not be assessed.