§ 29-319 — (Formerly Sec. 29-61). Fuel emergency.

As used herein, “emergency” means the existence in any community of general distress because of a shortage of fuel, or threatened distress because of probable shortage of fuel, when public proclamation to that effect is made by the Governor; “hoard” means the withholding by any person, firm or corporation dealing in fuel of the same from sale or delivery at a reasonable price during an emergency; and “profiteer” means to hold for sale, or sell, fuel at an excessive profit, or charge an excessive rate or place unreasonable restrictions or conditions upon the sale, delivery or transportation of fuel. Whenever the Governor, by public proclamation, declares that an emergency exists, the provisions hereof may be enforced from the date of such proclamation until, in like manner, he declares the emergency at an end. During such emergency, no person, firm or corporation, and no employee of any person, firm or corporation, shall hoard or profiteer in fuel, or hinder or obstruct or in any way interfere with its prompt sale, distribution or transportation. Each person, firm or corporation dealing in fuel shall make and keep accurate and complete written records of all transactions concerning the same, showing, as to each purchase and sale, the date, kind, quantity and price, the name and address of the vendor and vendee and the identity of the agency of delivery. No person, firm or corporation shall knowingly give any false, deceiving or misleading information, or knowingly engage in any transaction that is calculated to create false, deceiving or misleading information, or knowingly incorporate or permit to remain in his or its books, accounts or other printed or written record any information that is calculated to create or convey false, deceiving or misleading information essential to the ascertainment of the facts concerning his or its dealings and profit in fuel. During any emergency, the Labor Commissioner, any member of the Labor Department under his direction and any local fire marshal shall have and exercise, in the enforcement of this section, the same powers of investigation, as far as applicable, as are conferred upon local fire marshals under the provisions of this part, and the commissioner, in the enforcement of this section, shall have and exercise the same powers, as far as applicable, as are conferred upon the Commissioner of Administrative Services by the provisions of section 29-310. Any person, firm or corporation violating any provision of this section shall be fined not more than one thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than six months, or both.

Legislative History

(1949 Rev., S. 3683; P.A. 73-12, S. 2, 3; P.A. 77-614, S. 486, 610; P.A. 11-51, S. 90; P.A. 13-247, S. 200.) History: P.A. 73-12 authorized labor commissioner and members of labor department to exercise powers in enforcing section which are conferred upon them by state police commissioner where previously state police commissioner and members of state police were authorized to exercise powers in enforcing section which were conferred upon them under Sec. 29-57; P.A. 77-614 replaced commissioner of state police with commissioner of public safety, effective January 1, 1979; Sec. 29-61 transferred to Sec. 29-319 in 1983; pursuant to P.A. 11-51, “Commissioner of Public Safety” was changed editorially by the Revisors to “Commissioner of Construction Services”, effective July 1, 2011; pursuant to P.A. 13-247, “Commissioner of Construction Services” was changed editorially by the Revisors to “Commissioner of Administrative Services”, effective July 1, 2013.