| Date: | 06/06/2003 |
|---|---|
| Organization: | Massachusetts Department of Revenue |
| Regulatory Authority: | Massachusetts General Laws |
| Official Version: | Published by the Massachusetts Register |
830 CMR: DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE
830 CMR 64C.00: CIGARETTE EXCISE
830 CMR 64C.00 is amended by adding the following section:
830 CMR 64C.34.1: Penalty for Possession or Transportation of Unstamped Cigarettes
The purpose of this regulation, 830 CMR 64C.34.1, is to describe the conditions under which the Commissioner may assess the civil penalties provided under M.G.L. c. 64C, §§ 34 and 35 against:
(a) Whoever, not being a licensed transportation company or a person specifically authorized by the Commissioner, whether by license or otherwise, holds for sale, offers for sale, sells, possesses with intent to sell, or otherwise disposes of cigarettes within the Commonwealth, unless each individual package containing said cigarettes has affixed thereto a Massachusetts cigarette excise stamp showing that said excise has been paid; or
(b) Whoever, not being a stamper or licensed transportation company or such other person as the Commissioner may specifically authorize, whether by license or otherwise, knowingly possesses, delivers or transports unstamped cigarettes in the Commonwealth.
The procedural requirements set out in M.G.L. c. 64C, § 8 will govern the criminal fines and penalties authorized under M.G.L. c. 64C, §§ 34 and 35.
The administrative notice and assessment provisions of 830 CMR 62C.26.1, as applicable, will apply to the civil penalties imposed under M.G.L. c. 64C, §§ 34 and 35.
Civil penalty, a penalty up to, but not more than, $5,000 for each violation.
Commissioner, the Commissioner of Revenue or the Commissioner's duly authorized representative.
Criminal penalty, a fine of not more than five thousand dollars or imprisonment in state prison for not more than five years, or both; provided, however, that a violation involving fewer than twelve thousand cigarettes shall be punished by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars or by imprisonment for not more than one year, or both.
Massachusetts cigarette excise stamp, the adhesive stamp evidencing the payment of the Massachusetts cigarette excise under M.G.L. c. 64C.
Violation, for the purposes of M.G.L. c. 64C, §§ 34 or 35, each instance of the doing of any act forbidden by M.G.L. c. 64C, §§ 34 or 35 and by 830 CMR 64C.34.1(a), (b) shall constitute a separate violation.
No person, other than a licensed transportation company or a person specifically authorized by the Commissioner, whether by license or otherwise, may hold for sale, offer for sale, sell, possess with intent to sell, or otherwise dispose of cigarettes within the Commonwealth, unless each individual package containing said cigarettes has affixed thereto a Massachusetts cigarette excise stamp showing that said excise has been paid. No person, other than a stamper or licensed transportation company or such other person as the Commissioner may specifically authorize, whether by license or otherwise, may knowingly possess, deliver or transport unstamped cigarettes in the Commonwealth.
Civil Penalty for Unauthorized Persons Holding for Sale, Offering for Sale, selling, possessing with intent to sell, or otherwise disposing of cigarettes in the Commonwealth in individual packages not having a Massachusetts cigarette excise stamp affixed Thereto.
(a) General. If the Commissioner determines that a person, other than a licensed transportation company or a person specifically authorized by the Commissioner, whether by license or otherwise, performs any act forbidden by section (1)(a) of this regulation, the Commissioner may assess a penalty against that person under M.G.L. c. 64C, § 34 for the failure to act in a manner as required by M.G.L. c. 64C in connection with the holding for sale, offering for sale, possession with intent to sell, or the sale or other disposition of unstamped cigarettes in the Commonwealth. The amount of the penalty assessed shall not exceed $5,000 for each violation.
(b) Notice and assessment of penalty. The Commissioner will assess the civil penalty as allowed by M.G.L. c. 64C, § 34 under the notice of intention to assess and notice of assessment provisions of M.G.L. c. 62C and 830 CMR 62C.26.1 for each violation. The Commissioner may issue a non-compliance warning for a first violation in lieu of assessing the civil penalty.
(a) General. If the Commissioner determines that a person, other than a stamper or licensed transportation company or such other person as the Commissioner may specifically authorize, whether by license or otherwise, performs any act forbidden by section (1)(b) of this regulation, the Commissioner may assess a penalty against that person under M.G.L. c. 64C, § 35 for the failure to act in a manner as required by M.G.L. c. 64C in connection with the transportation of unstamped cigarettes in the Commonwealth. The amount of the penalty assessed shall not exceed $5,000 for each violation.
(b) Notice and assessment of penalty. The Commissioner will assess the civil penalty as allowed by M.G.L. c. 64C, § 35 under the notice of intention to assess and notice of assessment provisions of M.G.L. c. 62C and 830 CMR 62C.26.1 for each violation. The Commissioner may issue a non-compliance warning for a first violation in lieu of assessing the civil penalty.
Any person who wishes to report a violation of this regulation should write to the Department of Revenue, Cigarette Excise Unit, P. O. Box 7004, Chelsea, MA 02150, file Form CCRF, Cigarette Complaint Referral Form available at www.mass.gov/dor, or call 1-617-887-5090.
REGULATORY AUTHORITY
830 CMR 64C.34.1: M.G.L. c. 14, § 6(1); M.G.L. c. 62C, § 3.
Date of Promulgation: 6/6/03
