N.Y. General Business Law § 399-f: Laundromat refund procedures

§ 399-f. Laundromat refund procedures. 1. "Self service laundromats"

or "coin operated laundries" shall mean and include all laundromats and

any apartment building with two or more washing machines or clothes

dryers.

2. All self service laundromats, except those staffed by a full-time

attendant, shall be required to post two signs with dimensions no less

than twelve inches by eighteen inches. One sign shall list the owner's

name and address, and the second sign shall give the price for the use

of the washer and dryer, the cycle time per unit of payment, and the

method of refund if the coins are lost in the machines, including a

telephone number or address to contact for refund. Information for the

method of refund shall read as follows: "If coins are lost in the coin

receptacle of the washer or dryer, contact (insert the name and address

or telephone number of a person designated by the owner of the self

service laundromat to contact for refund)."

3. All signs shall be prominently displayed in a clearly visible area

of the self service laundromat.

4. Any individual, firm, partnership, corporation, association,

company or organization which owns and/or operates such business and

knowingly fails to comply with the requirements of this section shall be

assessed a civil penalty not to exceed fifty dollars for the first

violation, one hundred dollars for a second violation and two hundred

fifty dollars for any subsequent violation. Each day such offense shall

continue shall constitute a separate additional violation. It shall be a

defense to the imposition of any such civil penalty if the owner or

operator posted a sign as required by this section and such sign was

removed or defaced by vandals, provided the owner or operator

subsequently complies with the requirements of this section.

5. This section shall not annul, alter, affect or exempt any person,

firm, partnership, corporation, association, company or organization

subject to the provisions of this section from complying with the laws,

ordinances, rules or regulations of any locality, relating to the

posting of laundromat refund procedures, except to the extent that these

laws, ordinances, rules or regulations are inconsistent with any

provision of this section, but no such local law, ordinance, rule or

regulation shall be considered inconsistent, if it affords greater

protection to the consumer.