LANSING, Mich.- Governor Rick Snyder signed a bill into law that will create stricter penalties for retailers who repeatedly commit Bridge Card fraud.
The bill, Public Acts 55 and 56, was introduced by Representatives Gail Haines and Roger Victory in order to create stricter punishments for retailers that abuse that state’s welfare system. The most common type of abuse are retailers that accept payments from Bridge Cards for alcohol and lotto tickets. Those types of purchases are not supposed to be made with the cards.
Rep. Haines, R-Lake Angelus said, “There are businesses in this state that knowingly defraud the welfare system. This legislation creates stricter penalties for the few businesses that break the law,” said Rep. Haines, R-Lake Angelus.
Businesses that have a liquor or lotto license and are caught allowing people to purchase them with Bridge Cards will have their licenses suspended for 30 to 60 days for the first offense. The second offense will carry a 61 to 120 day suspension and a third offense will mean their license will be taken away permanently.
“Michigan taxpayers don’t want to see their hard-earned money being spent in a fraudulent way,” said Victory, R-Hudsonville. “By creating steeper penalties for the few businesses that participate in this kind of fraud, we are further discouraging fraud and helping to protect our citizens and the integrity of the Bridge Card program.”
Photo Courtesy of State Rep. Roger Victory’s office.
