\nAny retailer who shall by any character or public advertisement offer to absorb the tax levied in this Article or in any manner directly or indirectly advertise that the tax herein imposed is not considered an element in the price to the purchaser shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. Any violations of the provisions of this section reported to the Secretary shall be reported by him to the Attorney General of the State to the end that such violations may be brought to the attention of the solicitor of the court of the county or district whose duty it is to prosecute misdemeanors in the jurisdiction. It shall be the duty of such solicitor to investigate such alleged violations and if he finds that this section has been violated prosecute such violators in accordance with the law. (1957, c. 1340, s. 5; 1973, c. 476, s. 193; 1993, c. 539, s. 704; 1994, Ex. Sess., c. 24, s. 14(c).)
North Carolina Legal Code