Posted on 01/21/2019 2:20:21 PM PST by Kaslin
Editor's note: This column was authored by Patrick Hauf.
Trendy environmentalist virtue signaling continues to thrive in California. Not content with bans on plastic bags and straws, west coast Democrats are flexing their green muscles yet again—this time, with a proposal to prohibit the use of paper receipts. Sure, this bill may be well-intentioned, but its promises are empty, and its only real impact will be boosting big corporations in Silicon Valley.
California Assemblyman Phil Ting introduced the bill to ban paper receipts under state law in early January. The lawmaker awkwardly announced his initiative while standing next to a man dressed in a giant receipt costume. But while Ting’s ridiculous proposal clearly appeared out-of-touch, the details of the bill reveal even more absurdity.
If this law is passed, businesses will be required to start providing electronic receipts by January 2022. If businesses do not comply, they will be given two warnings before being fined $25 per day, with an annual cap of $300 in fines—not to mention the costs of implementing an e-receipt service. Assemblyman Ting argues that a paper receipt ban is necessary to minimize waste, preserve resources, and protect the public from apparent “toxins” in the receipts.
Only in progressive California could businesses be fined for daring to distribute paper receipts. Using e-receipts can potentially help businesses in the long run, but this sudden, forced change, along with hurtful government fines, is of no help to struggling small businesses who may not be able to afford a sudden shift in technology.
Ting says paper receipts are a public safety hazard because of a chemical they contain called Bisphenol A (BPA) that the FDA banned from use in baby bottles. However, according to Alex Berezow, vice president of scientific affairs at the American Council on Science and Health, Ting’s claim is a stretch when applied to receipts. Berezow told The Daily Caller that “[We] shouldn’t fabricate reasons to support this policy … The minuscule amounts of BPA in receipt paper aren’t even remotely harmful.”
This proposed regulation is burdensome and unnecessary anyway, since more and more businesses are beginning to use e-receipt programs by choice. An Epsilon International study showed that 83 percent of retailers use e-receipts in order to obtain the customers’ email addresses and utilize them for marketing purposes. Clearly, this issue is about more than the environment.
The Wall Street Journal editorial board rightfully notes that if Ting’s bill is passed, the real winner would be Silicon Valley. Many leading e-receipt providers such as Wells Fargo and Stripe reside in San Francisco, the same city Assemblyman Ting represents. So it’s fair to question whether Ting is exaggerating his popular environmental cause as a subtle way to satisfy his Silicon Valley supporters.
Ting has failed to present his case in an objective and sincere manner. His proposal allows businesses to continue to distribute paper receipts until 2022, and after that point, they would still be available at the customer’s request. If paper receipts are even close to as “toxic” as Ting claims, then why not completely ban them immediately?
The truth is that if progressive California politicians would simply let the market work, the decline of paper receipts would likely continue in a natural fashion alongside changing consumer preferences. Assemblyman Ting is using environmental pretenses to advocate for a worthless bill that would only benefit his already-thriving supporters in Silicon Valley. Let’s hope California politicians put this bill where it belongs—in the trash, with the oh-so-terrifying paper receipts.
Patrick Hauf (@PatrickHauf) is a writer for Young Voices and Lone Conservative. His work has appeared in the Orange County Register, the Washington Examiner, FEE.org, and more.
I just want them to make receipts that don’t fade away after a month......................
I don’t take receipts usually as they do not taste good but how is a person supposed to check his purchases?
All towards a cashless society in one form or another.
For now, a receipt to your cell phone and/or your email address. Shoot Bank of America (and probably others) have been doing that for some time now.
Every place you go wants your cell phone and/or your email address.
I don’t give it to many. Very, very few and I hate doing even that. Only a couple of rewards programs. Now I’m being spammed by American Express with ads.
Or someone trying to pretend to be AmEx.
Never elect to public office anyone who’s name can be pronounced by striking a tin can!
When I first saw this I wondered about Costco, Walmart, etc., who check off the paper receipt when you leave. Also how about all those people who do not even have a computer. I know they are there because I know of three families who do not have any e-mail. And will somebody tell me where the savings are between that small slip of paper and my printing a full sheet of paper in order to return a box of xxx? Liberal nonsense.
However, all the hundreds of disposable diapers that fill parking lots in "welfare dump" towns connot blow very far and are biodegradable because they are filled with poo
i dont know... I kinda agree with this in a way... So many times I tell the clerks to just toss the rcpt... and places like Home Depot, waste sooooo much paper with unnecessary bs on it. truly is a waste of paper.
-—The truth is that if progressive California politicians would simply let the market work, the decline of paper receipts would likely continue in a natural fashion alongside changing consumer preferences.-—
Isn’t that the way it is with almost everything? Let the market work - because it always works (but not painless).
Not surprisingly, free markets are anathema to the modern liberals; the control freaks who can’t sleep at night unless they have their nose in every area of your life.
It’s a tax increase.
Neither the IRS nor the Franchise Tax Board will accept electronic receipts to justify deductions.
” I a) have to say “no I don’t want to give you my email” and b) no I don’t want to give to that charity today and “
At this point you have stood five deep in line for the last 20 minutes. I snapped once and told the poor clerk—no to everything I want to pay and leave.
I agree on important stuff for warranty and the few things that are still write off-able. but a quick stop at 7-ll for something to drink is a true waste of paper. I mean what can the reason be to keep a rcpt like that?
legally, it is that paper receipt (bill of sale) that transfers ownership of the merchandise in question
In Europe, they used to have (1980’s) special “police” who made sure that you were issued a paper receipt. This was to protect the store owner and the customer. I was never asked to produce a receipt, but I did read lots of signs saying that they were required.
I have always told my kids that any type of automated kiosk employing a credit transaction where you are asked: “Do you want a receipt?”, the proper answer is ALWAYS “Yes”. This is the case even when you plan to throw the receipt away.
Otherwise, if they KNOW you were not issued a receipt, then the party running the kiosk knows that you cannot repudiate any amount they they afix to the transaction after you walk away.
If they do this won’t they have to give everyone free access to the internet?
In other words, ID with every purchase, email address harvesting with every purchase. The high-tech version of Radio Shack asking for your address with every purchase to put you on their junk mail list.
Whack job state run by hyper-controlling liberal freaks.
I hope they wait another month!! I’m almost done papering by house with my CVS receipts!!!! (seriously we got one the other day that was almost 5’!)
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