HB 1829-S - DIGEST

(DIGEST AS ENACTED)

     Provides that any retail establishment doing business in this state that accepts for trade-in or exchange any computer hardware for the purchase of other computer hardware of greater value shall maintain, at the time of each transaction, a record of the following information:  (1) The signature of the person with whom the transaction is made;

     (2) the date of the transaction;

     (3) the name of the person or employee or the identification number of the person or employee conducting the transaction; and

     (4) the name, date of birth, and address and telephone number of the person with whom the transaction is made.

     Provides that, if a retailer has good cause to believe that any computer hardware in their possession has been previously lost or stolen, the retailer shall promptly report that fact to the applicable chief of police or the county's chief law enforcement officer, together with the name of the owner, if known, and the date when, and the name of the person from whom, it was received.

     Declares it is a gross misdemeanor under chapter 9A.20 RCW for:  (1) Any person to remove, alter, or obliterate any manufacturer's make, model, or serial number, personal identification number, or identifying marks engraved or etched upon the computer hardware that is received as a trade-in or in exchange on the purchase of other computer hardware of greater value;

     (2) any person to knowingly make, cause, or allow to be made any false entry or misstatement of any material matter in any book, record, or writing required to be kept under this chapter; or

     (3) any person to knowingly violate any other provision of this act.

     Declares that sections 1 through 3 of this act do not apply to trade-in or exchange of computers, or computer hardware, between consumers and retailers, or their branch facilities, when the computer or computer hardware was originally purchased from that same retailer.