§ 11-18-10. False statements in advertising.
(a) No person, firm, corporation, or association with intent to sell or in any way dispose of merchandise, securities, service or anything offered by that person, firm, corporation or association, directly or indirectly, to the public for sale or distribution, or with intent to increase the consumption of or to induce the public in any manner to enter into any obligation relating to the merchandise or service, or to acquire title to it or an interest in it, shall make, publish, disseminate, circulate, or place before the public, or cause directly or indirectly to be made, published, disseminated, circulated, or placed before the public, in this state, in a newspaper or other publication, or in the form of a book, notice, handbill, poster, sign, billboard, bill, circular, pamphlet, or letter, or by means of a photograph, motion pictures, radio, loudspeaker, television, telephone, telegraph, or in any other way, an advertisement of any sort regarding merchandise, securities, service or anything so offered to the public, which advertisement contains any assertion, representation, or statement of fact which is untrue and designed to be deceptive or misleading or is intended or designed not to sell the merchandise, securities, service, or anything so advertised at the price stated in it, or otherwise communicated or with intent not to sell the merchandise, securities, service, or anything so advertised.
(b) Any person, firm, corporation, or association who shall violate any of the provisions of this section shall, upon conviction, be fined not less than fifty dollars ($50.00) nor more than five hundred dollars ($500), or be imprisoned not more than ninety (90) days, or shall suffer both fine and imprisonment.
History of Section.P.L. 1914, ch. 1073, § 1; G.L. 1923, ch. 401, § 57; P.L. 1928, ch. 1199, § 1; G.L. 1938, ch. 612, § 54; P.L. 1956, ch. 3761, § 1; G.L. 1956, § 11-18-10.
Structure Rhode Island General Laws
Chapter 11-18 - Fraud and False Dealing
Section 11-18-1. - Giving false document to agent, employee, or public official.
Section 11-18-1.1. - Fraudulent insurance claims for stolen motor vehicles.
Section 11-18-1.2. - False statement to obtain replacement public assistance check or authorization.
Section 11-18-1.3. - False statement to fraudulently obtain license or registration.
Section 11-18-2. - False information to registrar of vital statistics.
Section 11-18-3. - Fraudulent notice to newspaper of birth, marriage, or death.
Section 11-18-4. - Concealment of birth out of wedlock.
Section 11-18-5. - Misrepresentation of circulation of periodical.
Section 11-18-6. - False financial statement to obtain loan or credit.
Section 11-18-7. - Procuring loan or credit on faith of false statement.
Section 11-18-8. - False representations as to continuing truth of financial statements.
Section 11-18-9. - Penalty for financial misrepresentations.
Section 11-18-10. - False statements in advertising.
Section 11-18-11. - Immunity of publishers and advertising media.
Section 11-18-12. - Injunction of false advertising.
Section 11-18-13. - Deception in sale of fuels and lubricants.
Section 11-18-14. - Sale of fuels and lubricants other than those shown by trade name on container.
Section 11-18-15. - Imitation of trade symbols of fuels and lubricants.
Section 11-18-16. - Sale of fuels and lubricants under false trademark or name — Adulteration.
Section 11-18-17. - Delivery of fuels and lubricants into container bearing false trade name.
Section 11-18-18. - Penalty for violations with respect to fuels and lubricants.
Section 11-18-20. - Obtaining vehicles with intent to defraud.
Section 11-18-20.1. - Possession of false identification.
Section 11-18-21. - Cheating of coin-operated devices.
Section 11-18-22. - Manufacture or distribution of slugs.
Section 11-18-23. - Defacement or alteration of manufacturer’s serial number.
Section 11-18-24. - Penalty for serial number violations.
Section 11-18-25. - Concealment or transfer of property with intent to defraud creditors.
Section 11-18-26. - Obtaining food or accommodations with intent to defraud.
Section 11-18-27. - Sale of false diplomas or certificates.
Section 11-18-28. - False animal registrations and pedigrees.
Section 11-18-29. - Fraudulent stock certificates.
Section 11-18-30. - Prearranged funerals — Receipt of money with intent to defraud.
Section 11-18-31. - Solicitation in name of law enforcement agency.
Section 11-18-32. - Video, audio and publication rentals.
Section 11-18-33. - Defrauding the administration of a drug or alcohol test.