ID now needed for drain cleaner

qonline.com ^ | January 3, 2012 | Anthony Watt

[MamaDearest]

One of Illinois' new laws requires consumers to reach for their identification as well as their cash when they have a clogged drain.



The law that took effect Sunday requires a valid identification to buy products containing chemicals listed within the Federal Caustic Poison Act in concentrations that require the warning "causes severe burns" on the packaging. Targeted substances include hydrochloric and sulfuric acids.



Purchasers also must sign a log with their name and address.



"We're looking at Drano, Liquid-Plumr -- those are the big ones," Rep. Rich Morthland, R-Cordova, said.



The law was proposed after acid was used as a weapon to cause disfiguring injuries, according to the Illinois Senate Republicans' website. State Rep. Morthland said he heard committee testimony from victims of such attacks whose horrific injuries required multiple surgeries.



Rep. Morthland said among those testifying was Esperanza Medina, of Chicago, who had acid thrown in her face in 2008 and suffered burns over 25 percent of her body.



State Sen. Mike Jacobs, D-East Moline, and state Rep. Pat Verschoore, D-Milan, noted some chemicals on the list also can be used to make methamphetamine.



All three legislators said they did not like placing restrictions on residents or businesses, noting they believe most people use the products safely. They said they voted for the measure for the sake of public safety, either to minimize the potential of attacks or to make it harder for people to make meth.


 Rep. Morthland said that the measure also got his vote because state groups representing retail merchants and the chemical industry got behind it. There will be an adjustment period, Rep. Morthland said, but people should be able to get used to it.

"If people use these products in a proper way, they won't have any problems," said Sen. Jacobs, who added the business community helped create the law. If the law proves to be overly burdensome, it can be changed, the legislators said.



Initial versions of the law were quite restrictive -- encompassing just about anything in the plumbing and cleaning aisles -- but the scope was narrowed, said Brad Babcook, director of legislative affairs for the Chemical Industry Council of Illinois.

The final version applies to items such as industrial-strength clog removers with substantial concentrations of lye or cleaning products containing hydrochloric acid that can clean chimneys, pavements and sidewalks, he said.



Butch Trevor, owner of Trevor True Value Hardware in Moline, said he had to figure out which products he offers are included in the law. Research let him build a partial list, he said. But he said he still had to spend hours taking a census of his other items.



"From my perspective, it's been a nightmare," he said.



Failure to comply is a business offense under to the law with fines up to $150 for the first violation, $500 for the second and $1,500 for the third and any subsequent violations within 12 months.



Mr. Trevor said people wanting to misuse the substances likely still will find a way to circumvent safeguards. He said he has heard some grumbli>g from customers, but there is not much choice right now.

"If they need a drain cleaned, they are going to buy the product," he said.




The Associated Press contributed to this report.



What does the law cover?



-- Hydrochloric acid and any product with a free or chemically unneutralized version in a concentration of 10 percent or more.



-- Sulfuric acid and any product with a free or chemically unneutralized version in a concentration of 10 percent or more.



-- Nitric acid or any product with a free or chemically unneutralized version in a concentration of 5 percent or more.



-- Carbolic acid, also known as phenol, and any product with it in a concentration of 5 percent or more.



-- Oxalic acid and any product with a free or a chemically unneutralized version in a concentration of 10 percent or more.



-- Any salt of oxalic acid and any product with such salt in a concentration of 10 percent or more.



-- Acetic acid or any product with a free or chemically unneutralized version in a concentration of 20 percent or more.



-- Hypochlorous acid, either free or combined, and any product with the same in a concentration that will yield 10 percent or more by weight of available chlorine.



-- Potassium hydroxide and any product with a free or chemically unneutralized version, including caustic potash and vienna paste, in a concentration of 10 percent or more.



-- Sodium hydroxide and any product with a free or chemically unneutralized sodium hydroxide, including caustic soda and lye, in a concentration of 10 percent or more.



-- Silver nitrate, sometimes known as lunar caustic, and any product with silver nitrate in a concentration of 5 percent or more.



-- Ammonia water and any product with a free or chemically uncombined version, including ammonium hydroxide and “hartshorn,” in a concentration of 5 percent or more.



Source: U.S. Government Printing Office.

[MagnoliaB]

Haahaaahaaaa....No joke. They shoot down needing an ID to vote but need it to buy drain cleaner. I can't wait to see this enforced because drain cleaner is the poor man's plumber.

[Frankss]

How about an ID to vote!

[The Great RJ]

The manufacture of meth has largely moved to Mexico where it is made on an industrial scale and taken across our porous southern border in large amounts. Sealing our border would do far more to reduce meth than this legislation. Every high school, college and university with a chemistry lab will have to be regulated under this BS.

[packrat35]

Freaking ridiculous! Day after Christmas, I bought 4 different drain cleaners to unclog pipes. Now I am some kind of criminal to IL. Thank God, I don’t live there.

[Wonder Warthog]

"Because I grew up being taught that bases were caustic."

You don't actually expect ACCURACY from journalists and lawyers, do you??

[varyouga]

The OTC restrictions have only cut down on these small amateur backyard labs. This has boosted the demand for imported meth and meth produced in large US labs by gangsters.

In a way, this is a good thing. The “rot” you see in many users is a result of consuming the dirty backyard meth. Pure meth is clear while dirty meth is yellow or even black with toxins. It is much easier to treat and rehabilitate addicts that were not permanently damaged by toxins.

Besides the strong addictive properties, pure meth has very little side effects. It was fairly often used by doctors prior to 1950 as a cure for fatique. Methamphetamine can still be legally prescribed as a psychiatric medication, even for children.

[reformedliberal]

Ammonia water and any product with a free or chemically uncombined version, including ammonium hydroxide and “hartshorn,” in a concentration of 5 percent or more.

---

Unsure of the concentration, but my husband’s Norwegian grandmother once actually went down to the Port of Milwaukee to find a Norwegian ship’s cook who could give her some hartshorn, which is a leavening agent, for some special Christmas cookies.

As for ammonia, I can’t clean without it. For about 8 months or so, last year, our local Walmart stopped stocking it, using the space for more expensive branded floor cleaners. It is back in stock, so maybe I’ll pick up some extra next time. If they get rid of Walker or change the Wisconsin legislature, this idiocy might spread up here.

Liquid or gel drain cleaner, diluted, cleans paper spa filters for far less than the branded products specifically made for that purpose, which are much more expensive. The basic ingredients are the same.

[going hot]

This one is easy.

Just tell the cashier you are a democrat voter, and therefore are not required to carry ID.

End of story, no muss, no fuss.

[AnTiw1]

" Ammonia water and any product with a free or chemically uncombined version"

Y'know, human beings excrete ammonia products thu their urethras...

I'm just getting up, and I need to take a pi$$...should I call the bomb squad? /rather s

[MrB]

Same first reaction here -

ID for drain cleaner, but not to vote.

[stocksthatgoup]

Voter ID law?

[sasquatch]

ID for drain cleaner, but not to vote....for a democrat.

[MamaDearest]

There is a reason meth people look the way they do.

Indeed that's true with what they're ingesting. Taking away my cleaning ammonia and who knows what else is punishing people who only want to use the products for their homes. Oven cleaner next?

[MamaDearest]

Acetic acid is on the list. i.e. vinegar. Brilliant. Just brilliant.

Are they worried people will get high cleaning their windows? Will they ban Windex with vinegar? Absurdity prevails.

[drainguy]

If you find this law to be ludicrous and useless, sign the petition below to repeal it...

http://www.change.org/petitions/state-of-illinois-legislature-repeal-the-act-restricting-drain-cleaner-and-caustic-chemical-purchases?share_id=TjZoPIlyOG&;