Small-biz owners fuming over ‘plethora’ of rules

Boston Herald ^ | 7 May 2006 | O’Ryan Johnson

[Radix]

Peabody businessman Bruce Lerner is joining the fast-growing list of entrepreneurs “frustrated out of business” by strict state and local regulations that small-business advocates say are choking the lifeblood of America’s economy.
    “It’s the sheer plethora of regulations,” said Carolyn Logue, a state director with the National Federation of Independent Businesses. “It seems many were just drafted to give someone, somewhere a job to do. Nobody looks at the goals and whether they’re actually accomplishing anything.”
    Three weeks ago, the North Shore Tobacco Control Program sent a 17-year-old decoy into Lerner’s Main Street Smoke Shop in Peabody. She made it 14 feet from the store entrance to the register before a clerk told her to leave because she lacked ID.
    Moments later the antipuffing G-men pounced, slapping Lerner with a $200 fine, not because he sold cigarettes to an underage person - which he hadn’t - but because an underage person had simply walked into his store.
    “I just feel as a business owner for 19 years, what does it benefit me to run a business?” Lerner said. “If the state wants to run my business, they can get up at 4 a.m.”
    Lerner is entertaining offers to sell the shop rather than endure the aggressive policing of the Tobacco Control Program. Logue said that puts him in league with businessmen across the country who, rather than wade through piles of paperwork in a ceaseless battle with bureaucracy, are simply closing shop.
    “That’s the frustration of small business owners who are saying,my employees are safe, I’m doing the right thing,” Logue said. “But someday someone will walk through my door, I don’t know who that person is, but when they show up I’m going to have to pay thousands of dollars as a result.”
    Lerner said he appealed the fine to the Peabody Board of Health, which agreed to waive it as long as there were no further violations. But he said the Tobacco Control Program wants him to lock away all his tobacco, which he refuses to do because it would eliminate his “roll your own cigar” display.
    Asked if he’s being pushed out of business by bureaucracy, Lerner said he hopes not. “Everyone you talk to who’s in a position of power says no,” he said. “But it certainly doesn’t help.”  

[Radix]

 

"..the antipuffing G-men pounced, slapping Lerner with a $200 fine, not because he sold cigarettes to an underage person - which he hadn’t - but because an underage person had simply walked into his store."

[martin_fierro]

Ping

[beltfed308]

This is sick! Where is the victim other than the owner?

[sgtbono2002]

Nazi tactics for sure.

Its getting bad.

What does it cost for a new business to simply comply to the ADA rules? Thousands. Aisle width, door width, the bathrooms ,ramps , thousands of dollars thrown away because one handicapped person in a thousand may want to enter.

[Muleteam1]

Conservatives have paid so much attention to the Federal government restrictions on business, we have overlooked the overbearing States and municipal regulations. Local governments are the last bastions for liberals to control our society.

Muleteam1

[patton]

I hate bureaucracies

[ErnBatavia]

Some California municipalities are making homeowners do many of those things if they want to sell the house. A friend (he's a realtor) was even surprised when he learned that he had to do some major doorway work to the guest bathroom, because it wasn't "handicapable".

[elmer fudd]

Conservatives have paid so much attention to the Federal government restrictions on business, we have overlooked the overbearing States and municipal regulations. Local governments are the last bastions for liberals to control our society.

It's not like conservatives ever stood any chance in Boston or Massachusetts.

[Luigi Vasellini]

My uncle had a candy store. Some worthless gubbamint turd bought his wrapped bulk candy. The turd unwrapped the candy and weighed it...low and behold...my uncle was fined for the candy being underweight. Turds...turds...everywhere!!!

[george76]

Here are all the different kinds of taxes that our government loves imposing upon us.

 

Accounts Receivable Tax
Building Permit Tax
Capital Gains Tax
CDL License Tax
Cigarette Tax
Corporate Income Tax
Court Fines (indirect taxes)
Dog License Tax
Federal Income Tax
Federal Unemployment Tax (FUTA)
Fishing License Tax
Food License Tax
Fuel Permit Tax
Gasoline Tax (42 cents per gallon)
Hunting License Tax
Inheritance Tax
Interest Expense (tax on money)
Inventory Tax
IRS Interest Charges (tax on top of tax)
IRS Penalties (tax on top of tax)
Liquor Tax
Local Income Tax
Luxury Taxes
Marriage License Tax
Medicare Tax
Property Tax
Real Estate Tax
Septic Permit Tax
Service Charge Taxes
Social Security Tax
Road Usage Taxes (truckers)
Sales Taxes
Recreational Vehicle Tax
Road Toll Booth Taxes
School Tax
State Income Tax
State Unemployment Tax (SUTA)
Telephone Federal Excise Tax
Telephone Federal Universal Service Fee Tax
Telephone Federal, State, and Local Surcharge Taxes
Telephone Minimum Usage Surcharge Tax
Telephone Recurring and Non-Recurring Charges Tax
Telephone State and Local Tax
Telephone Usage Charge Tax
Toll Bridge Taxes
Toll Tunnel Taxes
Traffic Fines (indirect taxation)
Trailer Registration Tax
Utility Taxes
Vehicle License Registration Tax
Vehicle Sales Tax
Watercraft Registration Tax
Well Permit Tax
Workers Compensation Tax

As Nugent said, “What the hell happened?”

created by Tom Nugent at National Review a few years ago.

[Gabz]

Nanny State Ping!!!!!!!!!!

Just last week I was carded for a pack of cigarettes...........and I'm 45 years old. The poor girl at the register was embarrassed (I'm old enough to be her mother) but one of their other stores got nailed eariler for not carding someone who didn't look 27.

[bert]

The marxists who control the state legislatures are imposing their poisonous ideology by making an end run around the feds.

The resulting discrimination will be the economic ruin as populations desert the tyranny.

[RandallFlagg]

So, what you're saying is.... You're a babe?

Well, we already knew that.

;-)

[Gabz]

LOL!!!!!

Flattery will get you..............................nevermind :)

Funny thing though, Earlieer that same day in that same store I was not carded for a 12 pack of beer. Go figger.

[patton]

Someday I want to run for office - I promise to do nothing, but take laws OFF the books.

That's it - that's my whole platform.

[spinestein]

A friend of mine worked in an automotive paint store and he told me that one day someone from the state walked in and started going over the shelves of paint and supplies checking for violations. He said all the stuff that was stored in regular inventory was as it was supposed to be, but because it was the middle of the business day and they were in the process of mixing paint for customers, they had the flammable storage cabinet unlocked and had numerous cans of paint open for transfer of product from can to can. The guy just started checking off multiple $1000 violations for improper labeling and open containers and unsecured cabinets simply because of a temporary usage condition.

[spinestein]

If you run in my district I promise to vote for you.

[Muleteam1]

You are very right there. If you are located in MA, you have my sincerest sympathies. Being the oldest, MA is part of the leading edge of American societal decay. It seriously needs an injection of conservative penicillin.

[patton]

LOL. Thanks. At least I am not the only one who thinks the situation is nuts.

[o_zarkman44]

If only illegal immigration law was so effectively enforced we would have little problem with illegal immigration.

This total bullsh*t selective law enforcement is nothing but feel good back patting of a society of victims.