Montana Code Annotated 2023

TITLE 30. TRADE AND COMMERCE

CHAPTER 12. WEIGHTS, MEASURES, STANDARDS, AND LABELING

Part 1. General Provisions

Definitions

30-12-101. Definitions. Unless the context requires otherwise, in parts 1 through 5 of this chapter the following definitions apply:

(1) "Barrel", when used in connection with fermented liquor, means a unit of 31 gallons.

(2) "Commerce", "trade", or "commercial" means a monetary or value exchange between parties for merchandise or services.

(3) "Commodity in package form" means a commodity put up or packaged in any manner in advance of sale in units suitable for either wholesale or retail sale, exclusive of any auxiliary shipping container enclosing packages that individually conform to the requirements of parts 1 through 5. An individual item or lot of any commodity not in a consumer package form or nonconsumer package form, but on which there is marked a selling price based on an established price per unit of weight or of measure, is a commodity in package form.

(4) "Consumer package" or "package of consumer commodity" means a commodity in package form that is customarily produced or distributed for sale through retail sales agencies or instrumentalities for consumption by individuals or use by individuals for the purposes of personal care or in the performance of services ordinarily rendered in or about the household or in connection with personal possessions.

(5) "Cord", when used in connection with wood intended for fuel purposes, means the amount of wood that is contained in a space of 128 cubic feet when the wood is ranked and well stowed.

(6) "Department" means the department of labor and industry provided for in Title 2, chapter 15, part 17.

(7) "Intrastate commerce" means any commerce or trade that is begun, carried on, and completed wholly in this state, and the phrase "introduced into intrastate commerce" defines the time and place at which the first sale and delivery of a commodity is made in this state, the delivery being made either directly to the purchaser or to a common carrier for shipment to the purchaser.

(8) "Nonconsumer package" or "package of nonconsumer commodity" means a commodity in package form other than a consumer package and particularly a package designed solely for industrial or institutional use or for wholesale distribution only.

(9) "On-farm scale" means a scale that is permanent or mobile, located on a farm or ranch, and used primarily by the owner or operator of the farm or ranch. An on-farm scale may be a livestock scale used for the weighing of live animals, a vehicle scale used for weighing grain, hay, or other field crops, or a combination livestock and vehicle scale.

(10) "Person" includes individuals, partnerships, corporations, companies, societies, and associations.

(11) "Sell" and "sale" include but are not limited to barter and exchange.

(12) "Ton" means a unit of 2,000 pounds avoirdupois weight.

(13) "Weight", when used in connection with any commodity, means net weight.

(14) (a) "Weight", "measure", and "weights and measures" mean all weights and measures of every kind, instruments and devices for weighing and measuring, and any appliances and accessories associated with those instruments and devices. The terms do not include meters for the measurement of electricity, gas (natural or manufactured), or water when they are operated in a public utility system. The provisions of parts 1 through 5 do not apply to electricity, gas, or water meters operated in a public utility system or to any appliances or accessories associated with them.

(b) The terms do not include time measuring devices by which products or services are sold.

History: En. Sec. 1, Ch. 99, L. 1969; amd. Sec. 146, Ch. 431, L. 1975; R.C.M. 1947, 90-153; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 274, L. 1981; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 442, L. 1989; amd. Sec. 64, Ch. 483, L. 2001; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 34, L. 2005.