[throwawaynothx]

It is an offence to be in possession of more than 50kg of potatoes in WA, unless you have purchased the potatoes from a grower or retailer authorised by the Potato Corporation. Police also have the power to stop and search a vehicle suspected of carrying more than 50kg of potatoes. The maximum penalty is a $2,000 fine for a first offence or a $5,000 fine for subsequent offences, as well as a further penalty up to twice the value of the potatoes [Section 22, Marketing of Potatoes Act 1946 (WA)].

[xenospn]

Why is it in kg if it’s in the US?

[d99kris]

WA here is likely Western Australia.

https://www.quora.com/Is-it-illegal-to-be-in-possession-of-m...

[monkeycantype]

It was previously common in Australia for the government to form independent 'single desks' that would have a monopoly on buying or selling a particular agricultural commodity with the intention that this would provide better prices for farmers on average over time. (you could still buy potatoes at the supermarket, but you were not allowed to sell a ship of potatoes)

Of course if the single desk is paying you the farmer, better than market prices during a glut, when the market picks up, the single desk is going to have to pay down it's debt and (and Saddam Hussein) before it pays you. This is one of many scenarios under which a bear market socialist might feel a longing for the free market stirring in their soul, and the potato act is the big stick that kept farmers from cutting their own deals.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Single_desk

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AWB_oil-for-wheat_scandal

[samatman]

Yes if the intention was Washington state, I daresay it would have been described as an "offense".

[sb057]

The United States has technically been on the metric system since 1975.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metric_Conversion_Act

[lloeki]

Voluntarily so, and in 1988 “preferred ... for trade and commerce.”