...bunch of thieves, living large in DC and raoaming the world dining on caviar and champagne!
Smile! You're on candid camera.
click it or ticket!
Posted on 08/08/2006 5:32:31 AM PDT by SheLion
Senator Susan Collins introduced legislation on Aug. 3 to help crack down on illegal sales of tobacco to children by banning the shipment of cigarettes and other tobacco products through the U.S. mail.
Specifically, the bill would add cigarettes and smokeless tobacco to the U.S. Postal Service's list of restricted, non-mailable products. A first violation of mailing such a product would be liable for a civil penalty of up to $5,000 or 10 times the estimated retail value of the tobacco products, including all federal, state, and local taxes, whichever is highest. Civil penalties of up to $100,000 would be imposed for each subsequent violation.
The Senate went into recess on August 4.
This is not the first action taken against Internet sellers of cigarettes.
In January Philip Morris USA reached an agreement with a coalition of 37 Attorneys General aimed at combating the sale of the company’s cigarettes over the Internet and through the mails. In addition, in March 2005, the Attorneys Generals also announced that the major credit card companies had all agreed to stop processing credit card payments for the Internet retailers. And, later in the year, both DHL and UPS agreed to stop shipping packages for the vendors engaged in these illegal sales.
The USPS has continued to ship cigarettes because under postal law packages are sealed against inspection unless there is probable cause, according to USPS spokesman Gerry McKiernan
In September 2005, the agency adopted a formal policy recognizing that it cannot knowingly permit mail to be used to further activities deemed unlawful by state and federal authorities. As a result, the agency currently makes it illegal to mail alcoholic beverages and guns.
However, the USPS policy authorizes postal employees to accept packages suspected of containing untaxed or under-taxed cigarettes because, there could be souvenirs in the package. However, “its pretty obvious if it’s a gun, don’t you think,” asked Mr. McKiernan.
If enacted, McKiernan, “we will comply, but we hope guidance will be offered on how we can effectively enforce this legislation.”
Sen. Collins said Internet sales of tobacco are growing, but effective safeguards against illegal sales to young people are virtually non- existent on the more than 400 websites selling tobacco, making it easier and cheaper for kids to buy cigarettes.
She added that the delivery of cigarettes and other tobacco products through the mail creates opportunities for tax evasion.
Collins said that 20 percent of cigarette-selling Websites do not say anything about sales to minors being prohibited and more than half require only that the buyer say they are of legal age. Another 15 percent require that the buyer type in their date of birth and only 7 percent require any drivers license information.
Collins said Internet "stings" conducted by Attorneys General in at least 15 states found that children as young as 9-years-old are able to purchase cigarettes easily. Moreover, since Internet cigarette vendors typically require a two-carton minimum purchase, many high school and middle school buyers of Internet tobacco also end up serving as suppliers of cigarettes to other kids.
In March, Senator Charles E. Schumer, D-NY, and New York State Attorney General Eliot Spitzer announced that they had teamed up to support legislation to stop the shipment of cigarettes and smokeless tobacco through the U.S. Mail.
Schumer said his bill would prohibit mailing cigarettes through the USPS, impose fines of at least $1,000 per offense and jail time for repeat offenders, and give state Attorneys General the ability to pursue those who ship tobacco in violation of the law.
The bill has not yet been introduced.
And TAX EVASION??? Maine charges $2 dollars tax a PACK and $10 tax a CARTON! What the hell do these lawmakers expect! Tax Evasion my arze! It's the American Way to Shop Cheap and when we can buy the same article for lesser amount, we are going to go there to buy it!
And she is becrying "WE HAVE TO KEEP THE KIDS FROM BUYING CIGARETTES OVER THE NET!" Well, what parent in their right mind is going to give a credit card to a kid to buy cigarettes off of the net. This is getting just a tad old, in my opinion.
Maine sure is getting desperate to keep their stupid little pet programs running. They not only want cigarettes taxes, they now want taxes from ALL things ordered from the NET AND CATALOGS!
Is this desperation or what?
Well, MS Collins, when your time is up, my vote you will not get. I would vote for a trained monkey before she got my vote again!
Another lawmaker who has become POWER HUNGRY!!!
When the government confiscates your money it's called "paying your fair share". When you don't let them steal your money, it's called tax evasion and theft.
...bunch of thieves, living large in DC and raoaming the world dining on caviar and champagne!
Smile! You're on candid camera.
click it or ticket!
hahahaha......
We have $4 gas coming. Islamicist are plotting our distruction from within and without. The Mexican border is wide open and 10's of Millions of them are here illegally and this stupid TWIT is worried about cigarettes.
What a country.
Susan "Charlie Townsend" Collins.
Sure sounds about right, eh? I'm just shaking my head here. She's been a little mouse all these years now she pops off with this. No wonder she never married. heh!
I was going to say that Maine is probably losing a few bucks in tax money. Collins is trying to make it look like she is doing it for the children . When in reality its all about the MONEY.
Let me see. If the tax is $2 per pack, if you buy 10 packs, that's $20. But they only tax you $10 per carton of 10 packs. In other words, they are encouraging you to buy and smoke more cigarettes. That makes perfect sense.
When I hit your link I found the source (of your post) but not the actual verbiage of your post...can you help us find the 'real deal'?
The Senators and Congresspeople pay for NOTHING! I wish I would have kept the list of things they get for free. Postage, travel, you name it.
If a smoker is going to pay the tax anyways, and if we all agree that minors should not be buying cigarettes, and if the Government has a right to decide whatever it wants about the Post Office, why is this a power grab and just how does it limit my freedoms? Can't I still buy cigarettes and have them delivered by UPS or other carrier?
...and that doesn't even include "book deals"!
I can actually see a good reason for this - keeping kids from buying cigarettes on the internet. A lot of kids these days have their own credit cards, or at least have a friend who do, not to mention that some of these place might accept cash, check, or money order in the mail. However, you're absolutely right that they are stupid for not seeing it coming. So, while I'm not in favor of high taxes, I could theoretically support this legislation (but not until I know a little more about what all it entails).
no.
I'm trying...can you help?
I also Googled the author you listed and found nothing from her that was relevant to your post.
...and what is your screen name?
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