New York City Smokers are in trouble: WEB BUYERS $MOKED OUT

yahoonews.com ^ | Feb 3, 2006

[SheLion]

Price-conscious smokers who thought they landed fantastic bargains on the Internet have been hit by the city with bills totaling nearly $1.4 million, officials said yesterday.

A crackdown on tax-free cigarette sales on the Web hauled in $695,479 from 2,156 puffers out of the $1,354,880 demanded in the first round of bills sent out to 3,780 New York City residents through May.

A second round in August took in another $169,990 out of $507,000 due.

Now, officials say, they're ready to get really serious and impose a $100-a-carton penalty - plus the $1.50-a-pack tax.

"We want voluntary compliance," said Finance Department spokesman Sam Miller. "Now that we've sent out three notices, it's not so voluntary anymore."

[The Foolkiller]

Did you know that after you paid it off and got your paid in full slip from them you could file to have all the penalties and intrest returned to you? I had a similiar situation and my tax lady got it all back for me except of course the actual tax paid.

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Nope, I didn't know, but then, I ain't an accountant LOL Hell with it, it's just more water under the bridge now, but I wish I'd have known it at the time.

[The Foolkiller]

Been rolling my own for 2 years, ever since the worst governor Ohio ever had (RHINO Taft)got the taxes raised AGAIN after he got re-elected. It was also one of the first things he did after being elected the first time. In fairness, the scumbag raised everybody's.

[The Foolkiller]

aaarrrrrggggggghhhh

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LOL I liked that sound effect. Speaking of rolling our own, were you the first FReeper to do so, or did you start at the constant nagging of someone else? I basically started it because of your urging, but it was also in retaliation due to my sheer hatred of Taft. I know you talked Randall & a few others into it, too.

[The Foolkiller]

Another alternative...Quit smoking...smell a heck of a lot better...-Dakine

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Well, that didn't take long, did it?

[The Foolkiller]

Well, actually, it did take longer than usual-over 30 posts before one arrived.

[SheLion]

There is a huge spread between what tobacco actually costs to produce and what the public has to pay for it. It might be time to grow your own or at least roll your own.

I've rolled my own now for over 4 years.  I save over $300 DOLLARS!!!!  And that's just a MONTH!!!!

[SheLion]

Another alternative...Quit smoking...smell a heck of a lot better...

You sure are a trip!

I had a Doctor's appointment yesterday and she even had to ASK me if I was still smoking because she sure couldn't SMELL it on me.

IT'S CALL PERSONAL HYGIENE MY FRIEND!  EVER HEAR OF IT??!!

[dakine]

That shift key removes all smell...

[SheLion]

LOL I liked that sound effect. Speaking of rolling our own, were you the first FReeper to do so, or did you start at the constant nagging of someone else? I basically started it because of your urging, but it was also in retaliation due to my sheer hatred of Taft. I know you talked Randall & a few others into it, too..

Oh I kept reading from fellow Freepers about rolling your own and when Maine raised the cigarette taxes again back in 2000, I threw my hands in the air and headed for my downtown Smoke Shop.  Never looked back. :)

[SheLion]

Well, that didn't take long, did it?

NO!!  What a dweeb!

[joesbucks]

It's funny, because I used to work with two women who smoked and at about the same rate. One always smelled like an ash tray, the other unless you were right on top of her you couldn't tell.

I also find this smoking thing funny. Most social conservatives are against assisted suicide, which in most cases smoking is (self assised), are against smoking because it violates scripture regarding the vessel God gave us to take care of, support not smoking in the church, yet are furious over the various laws that have placed limits over smokers.

[SheLion]

That shift key removes all smell...

At least any smell "I" might have can be washed off.  Pity you can't say the same........

[AEMILIUS PAULUS]

1776.

[SheLion]

It's funny, because I used to work with two women who smoked and at about the same rate. One always smelled like an ash tray, the other unless you were right on top of her you couldn't tell.

The "stinky" one didn't practice good hygiene.  The other one did.

I also find this smoking thing funny. Most social conservatives are against assisted suicide, which in most cases smoking is (self assisted), are against smoking because it violates scripture regarding the vessel God gave us to take care of, support not smoking in the church, yet are furious over the various laws that have placed limits over smokers.

And you and I are reading the scriptures differently:  I feel that our Soul is the vessel.  We do not want to soil our souls because THAT is what goes to our maker at the time of death.

It doesn't matter one hoot what happens to our bodies.

I was told once by a Priest that the Lord cares more about what comes OUT of our mouths then what goes in.  And cigarettes doesn't make me all funny in the head to where I will do anything to "damage my soul."

It's funny, because I used to work with two women who smoked and at about the same rate. One always smelled like an ash tray, the other unless you were right on top of her you couldn't tell.

The "stinky" one didn't practice good hygiene.  The other one did.

I also find this smoking thing funny. Most social conservatives are against assisted suicide, which in most cases smoking is (self assisted), are against smoking because it violates scripture regarding the vessel God gave us to take care of, support not smoking in the church, yet are furious over the various laws that have placed limits over smokers.

And you and I are reading the scriptures differently:  I feel that our Soul is the vessel.  We do not want to soil our souls because THAT is what goes to our maker at the time of death.

It doesn't matter one hoot what happens to our bodies.

I was told once by a Priest that the Lord cares more about what comes OUT of our mouths then what goes in.  And cigarettes doesn't make me all funny in the head to where I will do anything to "damage my soul."

[tiki]

They have laws that enable them. In our state, if we buy something large out of state we're supposed to pay a compensating tax. Most people don't but if they were caught they'd be liable.

That's why I stopped buying cigarettes off the net. I figured it would happen sooner or later. I can't believe how many bootleggers there are with cigarettes.

[mass55th]

"Sounds like the good people of New York will have to have out of state friends buy them their smokes and then ship it to them."

Forget it. Eliot Spitzer, who will probably be the next Governor in New York, has forced UPS to refuse deliveries of cigarettes to customers. The postal service will be next. He pushed credit card companies to refuse transactions for internet cigarette purchases. Spitzer was instrumental in getting Master Card to stop authorizing online purchases of cigarettes. I'm sure he threatened these companies like he does with most of the concessions he gets.

[ndt]

What if you drive to N.J. and order them from a Kinkos and delivered to a P.O.box?

[Wheee The People]

Nothing will convince the smokers here that most conservatives don't support them. The votes in Washington and Florida show that conservatives will go to the polls and vote to restrict the imagined rights of smokers.

[SheLion]

What if you drive to N.J. and order them from a Kinkos and delivered to a P.O.box?

OMG!  I live in northern Maine.  WAY north!  Up by Fr. Kent!

I will just keep rolling my own, thanks friend.  I appreciate the suggestion.  But I live so far north there wouldn't be any savings because of the price of gas and my SUV.  :)

[joesbucks]

Appreciate your response. BTW, I have socially smoked for years. I practice good hygene including body and oral. I instantly smell like smoke when I have smoked. Smoking is like certain foods. I can eat certain foods that otherwise make people have body odor, yet I don't. But like some smokers, when I do, I smell like it.

The body is the vessel for the soul. The soul may be a vessel for other things, but our body is the living vessel for our souls. Taint the body, taint the soul. Why do you think the scripture talks of gluttony......it taints the soul, yet the soul didn't take a mouthful of food.