45-6-318. Deceptive business practices. (1) A person commits the offense of deceptive business practices if in the course of engaging in a business, occupation, or profession, the person purposely or knowingly:
(a) uses or possesses for use a false weight or measure or any other device for falsely determining or recording any quality or quantity;
(b) sells, offers, exposes for sale, or delivers less than the represented quantity of any commodity or service;
(c) takes or attempts to take more than the represented quantity of any commodity or service when as buyer the person furnished the weight or measure;
(d) sells, offers, or exposes for sale adulterated commodities;
(e) sells, offers, or exposes for sale mislabeled commodities; or
(f) makes a deceptive statement regarding the quantity or price of goods in any advertisement addressed to the public.
(2) "Adulterated" means varying from the standard of composition or quality prescribed by statute or lawfully promulgated administrative regulation or, if none, as set by established commercial usage.
(3) "Mislabeled" means:
(a) varying from the standard of truth or disclosure in labeling prescribed by statute or lawfully promulgated administrative regulation or, if none, as set by established commercial usage; or
(b) represented as being another person's produce though otherwise labeled accurately as to quality and quantity.
(4) A person convicted of the offense of deceptive business practices shall be fined not to exceed $500 or be imprisoned in the county jail for a term not to exceed 6 months, or both.
History: En. 94-6-308 by Sec. 1, Ch. 513, L. 1973; R.C.M. 1947, 94-6-308; amd. Sec. 1672, Ch. 56, L. 2009.
Structure Montana Code Annotated
Chapter 6. Offenses Against Property
Part 3. Theft and Related Offenses
45-6-302. Theft of lost or mislaid property
45-6-303. Offender's interest in the property
45-6-305. Theft of labor or services or use of property
45-6-306. Obtaining communication services with intent to defraud
45-6-307. Aiding the avoidance of telecommunications charges
45-6-308. Unauthorized use of motor vehicles
45-6-309. Failure to return rented or leased personal property
45-6-310. Definition -- computer use
45-6-311. Unlawful use of a computer
45-6-312. Unauthorized acquisition or transfer of food stamps
45-6-314. Theft by disposal of stolen property
45-6-315. Defrauding creditors
45-6-318. Deceptive business practices
45-6-319. Chain distributor schemes
45-6-320. Theft of nonferrous metal
45-6-321. through 45-6-324 reserved
45-6-326. Obscuring identity of machine
45-6-327. Illegal branding or altering or obscuring of brand
45-6-329. Disposition of property and proceeds of sale
45-6-330. and 45-6-331 reserved
45-6-334. through 45-6-340 reserved