The New Jersey Assembly passed a bill Monday that would make it illegal to return groceries purchased to hoard food and supplies for the coronavirus outbreak with fines of up to $20,000.
The proposed legislation, introduced by state Sen. Dawn Marie Addiego, R-Burlington, targets food and most of the other items that New Jersey residents have been panic-buying within 30 days of the state of emergency declared March 9.
The Assembly passed the bill on a 49-4-12 vote. The bill is scheduled for a vote by the state Senate on Thursday.
The bill (A3865) was crafted based on CDC guidance that suggests that the virus “may remain viable for hours to days on surfaces” and that a person can get COVID-19 by “touching a surface or object that has the virus on it” and then touching their face.
“Following a quarantine or period of isolation, a consumer may attempt to return unused items purchased in bulk, which may contribute to the spread of COVID-19 if the items being returned are contaminated with the virus," according to the proposed bill.
