Missouri Laws 570.140 – Deceptive business practice — penalty
1. A person commits the offense of deceptive business practice if in the course of engaging in a business, occupation or profession, he or she recklessly:
(1) Uses or possesses for use a false weight or measure, or any other device for falsely determining or recording any quality or quantity;
Attorney's Note
Under the Missouri Laws, punishments for crimes depend on the classification. In the case of this section:| Class | Prison | Fine |
|---|---|---|
| Class A misdemeanor | up to 1 year | up to $2,000 |
Terms Used In Missouri Laws 570.140
- Adulterated: varying from the standard of composition or quality prescribed by statute or lawfully promulgated administrative regulations of this state lawfully filed, or if none, as set by commercial usage. See Missouri Laws 570.010
- Mislabeled: varying from the standard of truth or disclosure in labeling prescribed by statute or lawfully promulgated administrative regulations of this state lawfully filed, or if none, as set by commercial usage. See Missouri Laws 570.010
- person: may extend and be applied to bodies politic and corporate, and to partnerships and other unincorporated associations. See Missouri Laws 1.020
- Property: anything of value, whether real or personal, tangible or intangible, in possession or in action, and shall include but not be limited to the evidence of a debt actually executed but not delivered or issued as a valid instrument. See Missouri Laws 570.010
- Services: includes transportation, telephone, electricity, gas, water, or other public service, cable television service, video service, voice over internet protocol service, or internet service, accommodation in hotels, restaurants or elsewhere, admission to exhibitions and use of vehicles. See Missouri Laws 570.010
(2) Sells, offers, displays for sale, or delivers less than the represented quantity of any commodity or service;
(3) Takes or attempts to take more than the represented quantity of any commodity or service when as buyer he or she furnishes the weight or measure;
(4) Sells, offers, or exposes for sale adulterated or mislabeled commodities;
(5) Makes a false or misleading written statement for the purpose of obtaining property or credit;
(6) Promotes the sale of property or services by a false or misleading statement in any advertisement; or
(7) Advertises in any manner the sale of property or services with the purpose not to sell or provide the property or services:
(a) At the price which he or she offered them;
(b) In a quantity sufficient to meet the reasonably expected public demand, unless the quantity is specifically stated in the advertisement; or
(c) At all.
2. The offense of deceptive business practice is a class A misdemeanor.