5 ms·

I have to concur with parent in some circumstances. I was looking up what are some weird regulations. I didn't find much, perhaps I was not using the right term

I have to concur with parent in some circumstances. I was looking up what are some weird regulations. I didn't find much, perhaps I was not using the right terms. But this one strikes me: License to Close a Business [1]. When it comes to protecting consumers, for example, regulations are generally not bad. Some regulations have been removed because some people want "efficiency" - and again, we have to pick the circumstance. Too much regulations (getting permits from 10 different agencies is slow) can drive up the cost (more application fees, higher construction cost due to delay), but too little or too lax can do harm. We all face this at work as software engineers... [1]: https://wislawjournal.com/2010/11/03/regulations-show-courts-have-duty-to-protect-economic-liberty/ https://wislawjournal.com/2010/11/03/regulations-show-courts...

runako 9y ago
That regulation sounded outlandish, so I read the article. The article is obviously anti-regulation, but even in context it's obvious that a) this is possible not a license to close a business but instead b) is quite possibly a regulation intended to prevent stores from having fake "GOING OUT OF BUSINESS" sales every couple of quarters, misleading consumers into making suboptimal decisions. Based solely on what's in the article, it wouldn't apply to businesses that don't carry inventory, notably services businesses.
- TAForObvReasons 9y ago
  Closest ordinance i could find from a cursory search: https://library.municode.com/wi/wauwatosa/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT6BULIRE_CH6.88CLTSA https://library.municode.com/wi/wauwatosa/codes/code_of_ordi... > Every person shall obtain a closing-out license before conducting a closing-out sale
  - yeukhon 9y ago
    Here is the full text: http://city.milwaukee.gov/ImageLibrary/Groups/ccClerk/Ordinances/Volume-1/CH88.pdf http://city.milwaukee.gov/ImageLibrary/Groups/ccClerk/Ordina...
- yeukhon 9y ago
  Well, it is a regulation to ensure the business is intended to close. Instead of "going out of business" sign, what happen "big sale" sign every quarters? FWIW, I am not sure if that big sale is really a big sale with discounts. In fact, I have seen mattress stores claiming a price drop on the flyer for $850 but the regular price never stays - basically I am calling out certain stores lying about the regular price and promotional price.
- FireBeyond 9y ago
  Hehe, I haven't looked, so it may be apocryphal, but I believe there is a WAC (Washington (state) Administrative Code), that mandates that a business (possibly limited to furniture stores) may only have a "Going Out Of Business" sale once per calendar year.
deleted 9y ago
[deleted]
electrograv 9y ago
I just googled "bad regulations" and this was the first result: http://www.businessinsider.com/ridiculous-regulations-big-government-2010-11#1-private-investigators-license-1 http://www.businessinsider.com/ridiculous-regulations-big-go... Not saying I agree with all of the points in that article, but these strike me as a few harmful regulations: > A U.S. District Court judge slapped a $500 fine on Massachusetts fisherman Robert J. Eldridge for untangling a giant whale from his nets and setting it free. So what was his crime? Well, according to the court, Eldridge was supposed to call state authorities and wait for them do it. > The state of Texas now requires every new computer repair technician to obtain a private investigator's license. In order to receive a private investigator's license, an individual must either have a degree in criminal justice or must complete a three year apprenticeship with a licensed private investigator. If you are a computer repair technician that violates this law, or if you are a regular citizen that has a computer repaired by someone not in compliance with the law, you can be fined up to $4,000 and you can be put in jail for a year. > The city of Philadelphia now requires all bloggers to purchase a $300 business privilege license. The city even went after one poor woman who had earned only $11 from her blog over the past two years.
- TAForObvReasons 9y ago
  It's always worth digging into the source material: 1) http://www.capecodtimes.com/article/20091001/NEWS/910010317 http://www.capecodtimes.com/article/20091001/NEWS/910010317 > illegally untangling a humpback whale caught in his fishing gear. > ... violating the federal Endangered Species Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Humpback whales were considered endangered species as the time. Certainly doesn't seem crazy to give extra care when handling endangered species 2) https://www.dps.texas.gov/RSD/PSB/Laws/psb_opin_sum.htm https://www.dps.texas.gov/RSD/PSB/Laws/psb_opin_sum.htm > Computer repair or support services should be aware that if they offer to perform investigative services, such as assisting a customer with solving a computer-related crime, they must be licensed as investigators. Sounds like the requirement applies to those who offer services that would be considered private investigation. 3) https://www.wired.com/2010/08/five-myths-about-philadelphias-blogging-tax/ https://www.wired.com/2010/08/five-myths-about-philadelphias... provides a decent contemporaneous rebuttal.

runako 9y ago

That regulation sounded outlandish, so I read the article. The article is obviously anti-regulation, but even in context it's obvious that a) this is possible not a license to close a business but instead b) is quite possibly a regulation intended to prevent stores from having fake "GOING OUT OF BUSINESS" sales every couple of quarters, misleading consumers into making suboptimal decisions. Based solely on what's in the article, it wouldn't apply to businesses that don't carry inventory, notably services businesses.

TAForObvReasons 9y ago
Closest ordinance i could find from a cursory search: https://library.municode.com/wi/wauwatosa/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT6BULIRE_CH6.88CLTSA https://library.municode.com/wi/wauwatosa/codes/code_of_ordi... > Every person shall obtain a closing-out license before conducting a closing-out sale
- yeukhon 9y ago
  Here is the full text: http://city.milwaukee.gov/ImageLibrary/Groups/ccClerk/Ordinances/Volume-1/CH88.pdf http://city.milwaukee.gov/ImageLibrary/Groups/ccClerk/Ordina...
yeukhon 9y ago
Well, it is a regulation to ensure the business is intended to close. Instead of "going out of business" sign, what happen "big sale" sign every quarters? FWIW, I am not sure if that big sale is really a big sale with discounts. In fact, I have seen mattress stores claiming a price drop on the flyer for $850 but the regular price never stays - basically I am calling out certain stores lying about the regular price and promotional price.
FireBeyond 9y ago
Hehe, I haven't looked, so it may be apocryphal, but I believe there is a WAC (Washington (state) Administrative Code), that mandates that a business (possibly limited to furniture stores) may only have a "Going Out Of Business" sale once per calendar year.

deleted 9y ago

[deleted]

electrograv 9y ago

I just googled "bad regulations" and this was the first result: http://www.businessinsider.com/ridiculous-regulations-big-government-2010-11#1-private-investigators-license-1 http://www.businessinsider.com/ridiculous-regulations-big-go... Not saying I agree with all of the points in that article, but these strike me as a few harmful regulations: > A U.S. District Court judge slapped a $500 fine on Massachusetts fisherman Robert J. Eldridge for untangling a giant whale from his nets and setting it free. So what was his crime? Well, according to the court, Eldridge was supposed to call state authorities and wait for them do it. > The state of Texas now requires every new computer repair technician to obtain a private investigator's license. In order to receive a private investigator's license, an individual must either have a degree in criminal justice or must complete a three year apprenticeship with a licensed private investigator. If you are a computer repair technician that violates this law, or if you are a regular citizen that has a computer repaired by someone not in compliance with the law, you can be fined up to $4,000 and you can be put in jail for a year. > The city of Philadelphia now requires all bloggers to purchase a $300 business privilege license. The city even went after one poor woman who had earned only $11 from her blog over the past two years.

TAForObvReasons 9y ago
It's always worth digging into the source material: 1) http://www.capecodtimes.com/article/20091001/NEWS/910010317 http://www.capecodtimes.com/article/20091001/NEWS/910010317 > illegally untangling a humpback whale caught in his fishing gear. > ... violating the federal Endangered Species Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Humpback whales were considered endangered species as the time. Certainly doesn't seem crazy to give extra care when handling endangered species 2) https://www.dps.texas.gov/RSD/PSB/Laws/psb_opin_sum.htm https://www.dps.texas.gov/RSD/PSB/Laws/psb_opin_sum.htm > Computer repair or support services should be aware that if they offer to perform investigative services, such as assisting a customer with solving a computer-related crime, they must be licensed as investigators. Sounds like the requirement applies to those who offer services that would be considered private investigation. 3) https://www.wired.com/2010/08/five-myths-about-philadelphias-blogging-tax/ https://www.wired.com/2010/08/five-myths-about-philadelphias... provides a decent contemporaneous rebuttal.