A007-9900

10	AN ACT CONCERNING



20		Business Relations - Advertising Signs



30	FOR the purpose of mandating that the octane rating on gasoline be clearly 

40	displayed on road signs so that motorists may make an informed decision about 

50	the products they may potentially purchase before pulling off the roadway.



60	BY adding to

70		Article-Business Regulations

80		Section 10-315 (c) and (d)

90		Annotated Code of Maryland

100		(1997 replacement volume)



110	SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE MARYALND STUDENT

120		LEGISLATURE: that the laws of Maryland read as follows



130				Article-Business Relations



140	¤ 10-315 (c) and (d). Advertising Signs



150	(c) Size and price of tax listings. - (1) A sign or other means on the premises and 

160	approaches to a retail outlet that advertises the retail price AND OCTANE 

170	RATING of motor fuel:



180		(i) may list the price and each tax separately if the listing of all total of

190		the price and all the taxes is the same size as the separate listing price; but



200		(ii) shall list the total of the price and all taxes by numerals of uniform 

210		size; AND



220		(iii) SHALL CLEARLY DISPLAY MINIMUM OCTANE RATINGS OF 

230		GASOLINE ON ROADWAY SIGNS IN NUMERALS OF UNIFORM SIZE.



250	(d) Retail service station dealer signs. - (1) This subsection does not apply to 

260	APPLIES TO ALL RETAIL SALE OF GASOLINE WITH THE FOLLOWING

270	EXCEPTION:



280		(i) a retail service station dealer who operates with not more than 3 

290		dispensing units that that combined have not more than 6 nozzles; or



300		(ii) (i) the sale of gasohol; OR 



310		(ii) THE SALE OF NATURAL GAS



320	     (2) Each retail service station dealer will keep a sign on the premises that: 

330	 	(i) states the lowest price for a whole measurement unit of regular and 

340	 	mid-grade gasoline sold on the premises;



350		(ii) states the unit of measurement used; and 



360		(iii) is readable by passing motorists; AND



370		(iv) STATES MINIMUM OCTANE RATINGS 





380	SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, that this act shall take effect

390		January 1, 2001



400	MANDATES:		Governor Parris Glendening

410			Lt. Governor Kathleen Kennedy Townsend

420			Delegate John F. Wood, Jr., Chairman, Commerce

430			and Government Matters Committee

					

	

						

Co-sponsors:

Kate O. Boyle 

Western Maryland College

2 College Hill 

Westminster, MD 21157

(410) 751-8179

kob001@wmdc.edu



Holly K. Smith

Western Maryland College

2 College Hill

Westminster, MD 21157

(410) 751-8187

hks001@wmdc.edu