§ 13-3. Findings and objectives.

(a)

As a result of the rapid population and business growth in the county, and due to the number of seasonal residents and tourists in the county, county residents and visitors are habitually targets for unfair and deceptive trade practices.

(b)

In November, 1978, the board of county commissioners adopted Orange County Ord. No. 78-21 establishing the Orange County Consumer Fraud Investigative Unit to receive consumer complaints, gather and assemble information pertinent to those complaints and refer the same to the appropriate enforcing authority having jurisdiction over the subject matter of the complaint. Since its establishment, the county consumer fraud investigative unit has carried out its duties in a highly satisfactory manner, providing a strong and effective consumer protection program to protect the interests of both the consumer public and the legitimate businessman.

(c)

Orange County Ord. No. 78-21 contained a sunset provision whereby the ordinance would be automatically repealed two (2) years from the effective date thereof (November 30, 1978). Therefore, Orange County Ord. No. 78-21 was automatically repealed November 30, 1980.

(d)

It is in the best interest of the residents and visitors of the county that the Orange County Consumer Fraud Investigative Unit continue to perform the services it has been performing since its establishment. The public health, safety, and welfare of the citizens of the county require that the county consumer fraud investigative unit not cease functioning upon the automatic repeal of Orange County Ord. No. 78-21. Therefore, the board of county commissioners enacts this chapter to permit the continuing existence of the county consumer fraud investigative unit.

(Code 1965, § 9B-3; Ord. No. 80-21, § 3, 12-1-80)