Utah Traveling Sales Crew Stands To Pay $55K For Violating WI Law

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The state is taking action against a Utah company for violating its stringent Traveling Sales Crew law.

This is the first time a company is facing fines since “Malinda’s Law” took effect in 2010. Malinda’s Law is named after one of the victims of a high speed crash in 1999, in which seven members of a traveling magazine sales crew died. It requires traveling salespeople to be licensed and certified.

Satton Marketing of Orem, Utah is facing $55,000 in fines for violating the provisions last summer. The company employed a dozen out-of-state workers to go door to door selling television services.

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“It’s the first time we’ve made any citations,” said Jim Chiolino, the director of labor standards for the Department of Workforce Development’s Equal Rights Division.

Chilino says Satton claims it didn’t know of Wisconsin’s law.

“No other states have similar regulations, so I guess I can understand maybe not knowing all the intricacies. But we have published this information. It’s on our website. We’ve been informing law enforcement over the last few years.”

A police officer in the Village of Highland reported seeing a suspicious sales crew last summer, and so did a resident in Poynette. Chilino says his department is relying on such sightings to follow up on potential cases.

He says two to three companies are in the process of applying for licenses: “So we haven’t certified anybody yet, but they seem to be good applications. They’re trying to comply.”

The case against Satton Marketing goes to the Department of Justice, which can choose to file suit to recover the $55,000 fine.

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