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by violetfae
on Mon Apr 27, 2009 3:07 pm |
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On March 23, 2009, a Bill was introduced in the House of Representatives by Congressman Anthony D. Weiner of New York, which was referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
HR 1676 would prevent tobacco smuggling and ensure the collection of all tobacco taxes.
With a few exceptions, all cigarettes and smokeless tobacco would be deemed non-mailable and would not be deposited in or carried through the United States Postal Service mails. Currently FedEx, UPS and DHL have voluntarily agreed not to ship cigarettes.
Failing to comply with state tax laws by any seller making a sale via telephone, the mail, or the Internet would be a federal offense.
Age verification, package labeling and inspection authority would be imposed.
Contact your rep here:
http://writerep.house.gov/writerep/
Let them know you oppose this bill. |
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violetfae
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by garhkal
on Mon Apr 27, 2009 4:13 pm |
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| Send an email to my congressman. |
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garhkal
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by rlf
on Mon Apr 27, 2009 8:33 pm |
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Quote: HR 1676 would prevent tobacco smuggling and ensure the collection of all tobacco taxes.
With a few exceptions, all cigarettes and smokeless tobacco would be deemed non-mailable and would not be deposited in or carried through the United States Postal Service mails. Currently FedEx, UPS and DHL have voluntarily agreed not to ship cigarettes.
Failing to comply with state tax laws by any seller making a sale via telephone, the mail, or the Internet would be a federal offense.
So this just makes it all the more appealing and lucrative for hard core organized crime. Regular people will be daunted, but since the mob already deals with federal nuisances like this when smuggling street drugs, they will be ready to hit the floor running on cigarettes.
I don't know why state government officials don't just come to our door and rob us at gunpoint. It would be a lot more authentic, as far as showing what kind of people they really are. |
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rlf
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by Lynda F
on Mon Apr 27, 2009 8:41 pm |
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violetfae wrote: Currently FedEx, UPS and DHL have voluntarily agreed not to ship cigarettes.
That may be true in NYC BUT I know for a fact that UPS DOES DELIVER CIGARETTES. I get my tobacco and tubes shipped and it's either USPS or UPS depending on what I pay for. |
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Lynda F
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by rlf
on Mon Apr 27, 2009 11:01 pm |
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Lynda F wrote: violetfae wrote: Currently FedEx, UPS and DHL have voluntarily agreed not to ship cigarettes.
That may be true in NYC BUT I know for a fact that UPS DOES DELIVER CIGARETTES. I get my tobacco and tubes shipped and it's either USPS or UPS depending on what I pay for.
How can this be enforced, anyway? Are they going to put tobacco-sniffing dogs in all post offices? It looks like all anyone would have to do to get around the law would be to ship the cigs in a plain box. UPS and FedEx have built their whole reputation around speed, so I can't see them slowing down their conveyor belts long enough to let Rover decide which boxes have contraband tobacco.
I think the state lawmakers realize they've gone too far this time on the taxes. I'm waiting to see what they'll do when they realize how many packets of tobacco seeds have gone out over the Internet in the last month. |
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rlf
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by Asmoker2
on Mon Apr 27, 2009 11:26 pm |
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| Is everyone writing their congresswo/man? I know when I read this yesterday in another thread, I immediately wrote mine and told him he had better give this considerable thought before thinking it might be a good idea, because it's just opening the door even wider for the blackmarket. |
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Asmoker2
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by violetfae
on Tue Apr 28, 2009 4:50 pm |
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^^Of course I wrote to mine. I think everyone should because it is supposed to be their job to represent the people.
btw, if anyone writes to them encouraging to pass this law, you're just an a**hole. |
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violetfae
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by Jay
on Tue Apr 28, 2009 5:14 pm |
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This sounds like sad news for ALL online smoke shops. At least the small good news is online vendors are still allowed to deliver cigs as long as they don't deliver more than 10 pounds of cigs to their customers.
(I believe 10 pounds of cigs is the same as me placing a 10-carton order.)
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http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=cqmidday-000003104868
House Panel Approves Bill to Deter Illegal Sales and Smuggling of Tobacco
A House panel approved legislation Tuesday aimed at combating illegal Internet cigarette sales and the smuggling of tobacco.
The House Judiciary Committee by voice vote approved a bill that would require tobacco sellers to verify the age of buyers who purchase products online or over the phone, and would require sellers to keep delivery sales records.
The bill also would require sellers of cigarettes and smokeless tobacco to include notices about excise tax requirements and would bar shipments of cigarette or smokeless tobacco that weigh more than 10 pounds.
Sellers who violate the new rules could face up to three years in prison or civil penalties of up to 2 percent of their gross sales for the year before the violation.
As states have increased their tobacco taxes, smugglers have taken to selling tobacco products on the Internet to avoid paying local taxes, said Rep. Anthony Weiner , D-N.Y., the bill’s sponsor.
The illegal sales have affected state revenue, according to ranking Republican Lamar Smith of Texas. In California, state officials estimate that purchasers do not pay taxes on as much as 15 percent of all tobacco sold.
Before approving the measure, the panel adopted by voice vote a Howard Coble , R-N.C., amendment that would make an exception for tobacco mailings intended for consumer testing by manufacturers.
The panel also adopted by voice vote a Robert W. Goodlatte , R-Va., amendment that would express the sense of Congress that the measure does not set a precedent regarding states’ ability to collect sales tax on out-of-state entities. |
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Jay
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by rlf
on Tue Apr 28, 2009 10:51 pm |
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Jay wrote: As states have increased their tobacco taxes, smugglers have taken to selling tobacco products on the Internet to avoid paying local taxes, said Rep. Anthony Weiner , D-N.Y., the bill’s sponsor.
The illegal sales have affected state revenue, according to ranking Republican Lamar Smith of Texas. In California, state officials estimate that purchasers do not pay taxes on as much as 15 percent of all tobacco sold.
Too bad we don't have any nerve. What we really should do is all buy 10-plus cartons of cigarettes over the Internet on the same day, and have them shipped by USPS or UPS. They would have so many felony offenders, they wouldn't be able to jail us all. And even if they did succeed in jailing us, can you imagine the expense they would incur trying to deal with such a large influx of prisoners?
Their state funding would totally dry up, because they wouldn't be getting any income tax or sales tax from any of us during our confinement.
I'm already personally protesting the cig tax by not spending any money whatsoever in department stores, and when I get a request for a charitable donation, I just write on it, 'No donation due to cigarette tax' and mail it back. I refuse to help the economy in any way whatsoever, and no longer care if the whole country sinks. |
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rlf
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by Jay
on Thu Apr 30, 2009 12:41 am |
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A small followup on this topic, if you're someone who opposes this bill.
This is a portion of an email from an online smoke shop I've bought from before.
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Congress is at it Again!...
After imposing huge new taxes on cigarettes and tobacco products, Congress NOW wants to place restrictions on the sale of online cigarettes and smokeless tobacco, forcing you to pay local and state taxes on every order! We urge you to contact your State Representatives to let them know you oppose bill H.R.1676.
To reach them by phone, you may call the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121 for assistance. To email members of the House of Representatives, go to http://writerep.house.gov/writerep/ . Please do so today!
We work hard everyday to save you money and deliver quality products at an affordable price. Only with your help can we continue to do so. Please tell your Representative to VOTE NO on H.R.1676, also known as the "PACT Act". |
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Jay
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