New Government Policy Imposes Strict Standards on Garage Sales Nationwide - Local News | News Articles | National News | US News - FOXNews.com

New Government Policy Imposes Strict Standards on Garage Sales Nationwide - Local News News Articles National News US News - FOXNews.com: "New Government Policy Imposes Strict Standards on Garage Sales Nationwide"


Americans who slap $1 pricetags on their used possessions at garage sales or bazaar events risk being slapped with fines of up to $15 million, thanks to a new government campaign.
The "Resale Round-up," launched by the Consumer Product Safety Commission, enforces new limits on lead in children's products and makes it illegal to sell any items that don't meet those limits or have been recalled for any other reason.
The strict standards were set in the 2008 Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act after a series of high-profile recalls of Chinese-made toys.
The standards were originally interpreted to apply only to new products, but now the CPSC says they apply to used items as well.
"Those who resell recalled children's products are not only breaking the law, they are putting children's lives at risk,” said CPSC Chairman Inez Tenenbaum. "Resale stores should make safety their business and check for recalled products and hazards to children."

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This law was given a "stay of execution" for one year and it's time will soon arrive to be enforced in full measure.

Way back then, a few people were concerned that "second hand" had not been excluded from the law. They were told it wasn't an issue. Looks like those few were RIGHT - isn't that always the way with our governement. Pat you on the head and give you a lollipop with one hand, stab you in the back with the other one.

This is serious for those of us the buy almost everything we own and use second hand and consider JCPenny's a luxury store and Walmart barely affordable. I know I get funny looks when I consider $4 too much for toddler jeans at a garage sale - but our budget is THAT tight. I know people think we're weird for a lot of what we do - but I don't like replacing torn up or broken items due to carelessness. I don't like wasting food or seeing things go to a land fill.

Don't even get me started on my views of land fills. .... OK, you got me started. Just one question. How can the same person promote recycle, reduce, reuse, green living, and enviromentalism ... and throw so much away that doesn't even belong to them? I see the libraries tossing perfectly good books into land fills. Goodwills and other second hand stores toss half or more of donated items into landfills. Restaurants throw away more food in a night than my family eats in a month. All because the government says they have to do all that! We live in a disposable society. I'm not worried a bit about nonesistant "global warming", especially when we are overlooking a bigger problem of too much trash in our landfills - most of which is perfectly usable ... yeah, I've been known to dumpster dive - and come home with wonderful treasures - bookshelves, dressers, clothing. .... One man's trash is another man's treasure. ..... When my parents were young, you took stuff to the dump, walked around and picked up stuff and brought home new items to use, toys, clothes, furniture - all could be had to those willing to look. This still happens in many countries. I've read stories to my kids about kids going to the dump to find pieces to build a race car or other invention - something that doesn't happen anymore in America - and our kids are loosing their ingenuity and creativity.

This new rule will fill our landfills like nothing we have ever seen before - and with it put struggling families further and further into debt. So far, nothing the government has done has really helped my family become self supportive - just forces us to rely ever more on their concept of "generous".

And you should see what our wonderful government has planned (for your benefit and protection, of course) for small roadside gardening stands!