<div class="chunk-title">Sec. 17-231. - Findings.</div>
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               During certain emergencies and disasters it is necessary to declare a state of emergency
               to promote safety and civil order. Certain essential goods then become scarce due
               to the disruption of the county's economy, and certain merchants and suppliers might
               take undue advantage of the emergency by unreasonably increasing prices for essential
               goods, thereby engaging in price gouging. Such price gouging adversely effects the
               community as a whole as well as negatively impacts the poor, destitute, and disaster
               victims.
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               (Ord. of 9-5-2000)
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