This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Starting this week, retailers now have the option of charging customers a 2-3 percent fee on credit card purchases to pay for the "swipe fee" they must pay credit card companies. This is outrageous.
Fortunately, retailers must post a sign telling customers that they will add this surcharge. Ten states have laws restricting credit card surcharges (California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Kansas, Maine, Massachusetts, New York, Oklahoma and Texas), but not pro-business, anti-consumer Utah.
The Utah Legislature, which started meeting this week, instead of telling sheriffs they can arrest federal agents, should pass a similar law. This year, dear elected representatives, do something for the voters. What a novel idea!
David D. Erickson
Salt Lake City