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Title 15 — Commerce and Trade

Chapter 10A — Collection of State Cigarette Taxes

§ 377. Penalties

Statutory text

(a)

Criminal penalties

(1)

In general

Except as provided in paragraph (2), whoever knowingly violates this chapter shall be imprisoned for not more than 3 years, fined under title 18, or both.

(2)

Exceptions

(A)

Governments

Paragraph (1) shall not apply to a State, local, or tribal government.

(B)

Delivery violations

A common carrier or independent delivery service, or employee of a common carrier or independent delivery service, shall be subject to criminal penalties under paragraph (1) for a violation of section 376a(e) of this title only if the violation is committed knowingly—

(i)

as consideration for the receipt of, or as consideration for a promise or agreement to pay, anything of pecuniary value; or

(ii)

for the purpose of assisting a delivery seller to violate, or otherwise evading compliance with, section 376a of this title.

(b)

Civil penalties

(1)

In general

Except as provided in paragraph (3), whoever violates this chapter shall be subject to a civil penalty in an amount not to exceed—

(A)

in the case of a delivery seller, the greater of—

(i)

$5,000 in the case of the first violation, or $10,000 for any other violation; or

(ii)

for any violation, 2 percent of the gross sales of cigarettes or smokeless tobacco of the delivery seller during the 1-year period ending on the date of the violation.

(B)

in the case of a common carrier or other delivery service, $2,500 in the case of a first violation, or $5,000 for any violation within 1 year of a prior violation.

(2)

Relation to other penalties

A civil penalty imposed under paragraph (1) for a violation of this chapter shall be imposed in addition to any criminal penalty under subsection (a) and any other damages, equitable relief, or injunctive relief awarded by the court, including the payment of any unpaid taxes to the appropriate Federal, State, local, or tribal governments.

(3)

Exceptions

(A)

Delivery violations

An employee of a common carrier or independent delivery service shall be subject to civil penalties under paragraph (1) for a violation of section 376a(e) of this title only if the violation is committed intentionally—

(i)

as consideration for the receipt of, or as consideration for a promise or agreement to pay, anything of pecuniary value; or

(ii)

for the purpose of assisting a delivery seller to violate, or otherwise evading compliance with, section 376a of this title.

(B)

Other limitations

No common carrier or independent delivery service shall be subject to civil penalties under paragraph (1) for a violation of section 376a(e) of this title if—

(i)

the common carrier or independent delivery service has implemented and enforces effective policies and practices for complying with that section; or

(ii)

the violation consists of an employee of the common carrier or independent delivery service who physically receives and processes orders, picks up packages, processes packages, or makes deliveries, taking actions that are outside the scope of employment of the employee, or that violate the implemented and enforced policies of the common carrier or independent delivery service described in clause (i).

Legislative history

Reconstructed from this section’s Code source credit and amendment notes, resolved against the local Statutes at Large. Editorial notes are evidence, not the law that made the change.

  1. Prevent All Cigarette Trafficking Act of 2009

    Pub. L. 111–154 § 2(d) · 124 Stat. 1087

    Enacted · 15 U.S.C. § 377

    (Oct. 19, 1949, ch. 699, § 3, as added Pub. L. 111–154, § 2(d), Mar. 31, 2010, 124 Stat. 1100.)

    Source evidence

    Code source credit
    (Oct. 19, 1949, ch. 699, § 3, as added Pub. L. 111–154, § 2(d), Mar. 31, 2010, 124 Stat. 1100.)

    Enacted provision · exact public law section
    (d) Penalties.— The Jenkins Act is amended by striking section 3 15 USC 377. and inserting the following: “SEC. 3. PENALTIES. “(a) Criminal Penalties.— “(1) In general.— Except as provided in paragraph (2), whoever knowingly violates this Act shall be imprisoned for not more than 3 years, fined under title 18, United States Code, or both. “(2) Exceptions.— “(A) Governments.— Paragraph (1) shall not apply to a State, local, or tribal government. “(B) Delivery violations.— A common carrier or independent delivery service, or employee of a common carrier or independent delivery service, shall be subject to criminal penalties under paragraph (1) for a violation of section 2A(e) only if the violation is committed knowingly— “(i) as consideration for the receipt of, or as consideration for a promise or agreement to pay, anything of pecuniary value; or “(ii) for the purpose of assisting a delivery seller to violate, or otherwise evading compliance with, section 2A. “(b) Civil Penalties.— “(1) In general.— Except as provided in paragraph (3), whoever violates this Act shall be subject to a civil penalty in an amount not to exceed— “(A) in the case of a delivery seller, the greater of— “(i) $5,000 in the case of the first violation, or $10,000 for any other violation; or “(ii) for any violation, 2 percent of the gross sales of cigarettes or smokeless tobacco of the delivery seller during the 1-year period ending on the date of the violation. “(B) in the case of a common carrier or other delivery service, $2,500 in the case of a first violation, or $5,000 for any violation within 1 year of a prior violation. “(2) Relation to other penalties.— A civil penalty imposed under paragraph (1) for a violation of this Act shall be imposed in addition to any criminal penalty under subsection (a) and any other damages, equitable relief, or injunctive relief awarded by the court, including the payment of any unpaid taxes to the appropriate Federal, State, local, or tribal governments. “(3) Exceptions.— “(A) Delivery violations.— An employee of a common carrier or independent delivery service shall be subject to civil penalties under paragraph (1) for a violation of section 2A(e) only if the violation is committed intentionally— “(i) as consideration for the receipt of, or as consideration for a promise or agreement to pay, anything of pecuniary value; or “(ii) for the purpose of assisting a delivery seller to violate, or otherwise evading compliance with, section 2A. “(B) Other limitations.— No common carrier or independent delivery service shall be subject to civil penalties under paragraph (1) for a violation of section 2A(e) if— “(i) the common carrier or independent delivery service has implemented and enforces effective policies and practices for complying with that section; or “(ii) the violation consists of an employee of the common carrier or independent delivery service who physically receives and processes orders, picks up packages, processes packages, or makes deliveries, taking actions that are outside the scope of employment of the employee, or that violate the implemented and enforced policies of the common carrier or independent delivery service described in clause (i).” .

1 of 1 references resolved to an enrolled provision

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

A prior section 377, act Oct. 19, 1949, ch. 699, § 3, 63 Stat. 885; Aug. 9, 1955, ch. 695, § 1, 69 Stat. 628, which related to penalties for violations of any provision of this chapter, was repealed, effective on the date that is 90 days after , by Pub. L. 111–154, §§ 2(d), 6, , 124 Stat. 1100, 1110.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Section effective on the date that is 90 days after , see section 6 of Pub. L. 111–154, set out as an Effective Date of 2010 Amendment note under section 375 of this title.

Credits

(Oct. 19, 1949, ch. 699, § 3, as added Pub. L. 111–154, § 2(d), , 124 Stat. 1100.)

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