No person shall, with intent to sell or in anywise dispose of merchandise, securities, service, or anything offered directly or indirectly to the public for sale or distribution, or with intent to increase the consumption thereof, or to induce the public in any manner to enter into any obligation relating thereto, or to acquire title thereto or any interest therein, make, publish, disseminate, circulate, or place before the public, or cause directly or indirectly to be made, published, disseminated, circulated, or placed before the public, in this city, in any newspaper or other publication sold or offered for sale upon any public way, or other public place, or on any sign upon any public way or other public place, or in any handbill or advertisement posted upon any public way or public place, or on any placard, advertisement, or handbill exhibited or carried in any public way or public place, or on any banner or sign flying across the public way or from any house, an advertisement of any sort regarding merchandise, securities, service, or anything so offered to the public, which advertisement contains any assertion, representation, or statement which is untrue, deceptive, or misleading. Any person violating any provision of this section shall be fined not less than $25.00 nor more than $200.00 for each offense.
(Prior code § 193-24)