NEWARK – State and Ocean County consumer affairs investigators inspected several Seaside Heights merchants during the start of the Memorial Day holiday weekend and found alleged violations of the retail, amusement games and weights and measures laws and regulations.

The inspections conducted on Friday marked the first in a series of unannounced visits that will be conducted along Jersey Shore amusement boardwalks this summer, Attorney General Anne Milgram and Acting Consumer Affairs Director Larry DeMarzo announced.

“We don’t want visitors’ summertime fun along the Jersey Shore marred by boardwalk retailers and merchants who don’t follow our consumer protection laws,” Attorney General Milgram said.

Consumer Affairs’ investigators found that seven of 24 retailers inspected did not have price tags or labels on merchandise offered for sale and one retailer did not have its merchandise return policy posted. Weights and Measures inspectors condemned one scale at one of nine locations inspected. The Legalized Games of Chance Control Commission (LGCCC), which regulates amusement games, inspected 25 locations and found a total of eight violations.

The penalties for these alleged violations have not yet been determined.

“People expect a fair chance to win a prize when playing boardwalk games and our inspectors, assisted by local consumer affairs offices, will make sure this remains the case,” Acting Director DeMarzo said. “The majority of merchants and game operators follow our consumer protection laws and we’re putting any would-be con artists on notice that scams and frauds will not be tolerated.”

DeMarzo said consumers should be aware of the following before playing boardwalk games:

• All games must be licensed. Look to see that the license is posted and that the dates on the license are current;
• Rules for games must be clearly posted. If you can't understand the rules, don't play the game;
• An operator cannot change the rules of play during game play;
• An operator can only charge a maximum of $10.00 to play a game, and the price must be posted;
• An operator must give you your change back immediately. If he or she holds your change, he or she may try to make you continue to play the game and keep a running total of what you owe him or her;
• A prize must be labeled indicating what it takes to win it. If you can't figure out how to win a prize, be wary. If all you see are large expensive prizes, your chance of winning them may be small;
• Be wary if the game and the prizes look like they're too good to be true; and
• Know the games and what to look for. Obtain a complete set of rules of play for most amusement games at www.state.nj.us/lps/ca/lgccc.htm. Simply click on "Amusement Game Certification of Permissibility."

The LGCCC can be contacted directly at 973-273-8000. Consumers with general questions or complaints may contact the Division of Consumer Affairs at 1-800-242-5846 (toll-free within New Jersey) or at 973-504-6200.

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