Shipping cigarettes state to state

[MadScientist]

Due to NJ's high cigarette excise tax, a friend of mine in NJ is paying $90./carton for unfiltered Camels. In WV they are $48.75/carton.
State tax rates and rankings: http://www.tobaccofreekids.org/research/factsheets/pdf/0097.pdf
http://tobaccofreekids.org/research/factsheets/pdf/0267.pdf
He would like me to purchase 10 cartons for him and ship them to NJ. He will re-imburse me for cost and postage.

After doing a little googling I found out that in March Obama signed legislation that bans the U.S. Postal Service from shipping cigarettes.
Does this also cover the other carriers too, i.e., UPS?
http://www.tobacco-facts.net/2010/04/obama-signs-bill-restricting-mail-order-cigarette-sales

Some states, i.e., MI, NJ, NY, OH, have subpoenaed on-line cigarette vendors for their customer records and are sending those in their state letters demanding unpaid cigarette taxes.

NJ's cigarette tax act states that it is a crime to sell, be in possession of, or transport (ship) untaxed cigarettes that do not have a NJ tax stamp. That includes other states stamped cigarettes.
http://www.state.nj.us/treasury/taxation/pdf/pubs/misc/ocicigs.pdf

So I may not be breaking a federal law by shipping them to him by UPS, but according to NJ's cigarette tax act I would be breaking their transportation law and he their possession law.

Should I take a chance and ship them by UPS or abide by NJ's law and tell him to quit smoking?

 

[DrPizza]

Tell him to hop on the PA turnpike, shoot across the state & purchase his own 10 cartons of cigarettes. He'll save $400, minus a tank or two of gas and a nice drive on a Saturday.

Personally, I wouldn't take such a risk. There are a lot of things I'd do for a friend, but break tax related laws? That's one area where they like to screw people who get caught.

 

[CallMeJoe]

Tell him to hop on the PA turnpike, shoot across the state & purchase his own 10 cartons of cigarettes. He'll save $400, minus a tank or two of gas and a nice drive on a Saturday.

Personally, I wouldn't take such a risk. There are a lot of things I'd do for a friend, but break tax related laws? That's one area where they like to screw people who get caught.

:thumbsup: :thumbsup:

The potential penalties for tobacco bootlegging far outweigh the benefits, especially as you risk all the former and gain none of the latter.

 

[sdifox]

You could just tell him to find local first nation reserve cig.

 

[Fingolfin269]

watch out for your cornhole

 

[lxskllr]

You can ship between private parties through USPS up to a certain weight with signature confirmation, which I can't remember at this moment. Some USPS branches aren't up to speed on the rules yet, so YMMV depending on what clerk you deal with. UPS will ship, but again, you need a signature on delivery. What /I/ would do is package it up good, and mail through USPS, and don't tell anybody anything.

Edit:
The above doesn't take the laws of particular states into account, but that won't matter for the last option I listed. I'd suggest stuffing a flat rate box with as many packs as will fit.

 

[MadScientist]

watch out for your cornhole

That's the first thought that came to mind and another part of my anatomy.

The going to PA to to purchase them is a good suggestion, but by transporting them back to NJ he's breaking the law. He will not save $400. on 10 cartons, PA tax is $1.60/pack vs. NJ's $2.70/pack

 

[MadScientist]

You can ship between private parties through USPS up to a certain weight with signature confirmation, which I can't remember at this moment. Some USPS branches aren't up to speed on the rules yet, so YMMV depending on what clerk you deal with. UPS will ship, but again, you need a signature on delivery. What /I/ would do is package it up good, and mail through USPS, and don't tell anybody anything.

Edit:
The above doesn't take the laws of particular states into account, but that won't matter for the last option I listed. I'd suggest stuffing a flat rate box with as many packs as will fit.

Will you do my jail time if I get caught?

 

[lxskllr]

Will you do my jail time if I get caught?

Why would you get caught? I'd hope you were smart enough not to put your correct return address on the box.

 

[IronWing]

He's asking you to commit a crime to feed his addiction? Is he really your friend?

 

[MadScientist]

Why would you get caught? I'd hope you were smart enough not to put your correct return address on the box.

It was just a pun.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Violating interstate cigarette taxes is weak sauce. For some real fun, load up your trunk with smokes and drive to Canada. I think it's one of the few cases where they bring out their tank.

 

[lxskllr]

It was just a pun.

Cool, but if you ship, don't forget that point ;^)

I ship tobacco all the time through private trades, and have never had a problem, or heard of problems from other people. Cigarettes are a bit different, but not by much. The big thing is, do you really want a job shipping cigarettes? Ten cartons aren't gonna last /that/ long, and he'll want more. As a one off I wouldn't have a problem with it, but I wouldn't want to do it as a full time job.

 

[sdifox]

Violating interstate cigarette taxes is weak sauce. For some real fun, load up your trunk with smokes and drive to Canada. I think it's one of the few cases where they bring out their tank.

Correction, it's the ONLY reason to bring out The Tank :biggrin:

 

[Old Hippie]

You're not gonna get busted.

I'd probably do it one time for a friend but after that he'd be on his own.

Camel nonfilters are my favorite cig but they got pretty pricey even with the online sales from other states.

If he wants to continue with a good nonfilter cig he may hafta look to imports.

Definately not legal, could possibly lose your money if they're confiscated by customs, but definately still working.

 

[Amused]

No one is going to search the package or know what's inside. The law exists to stop smugglers, not friends doing each other favors.

Buy the cartons, box them up securely and ship them. No big deal. I used to do this all the time since cigs were cheapest on military bases back in the day.

 

[Nik]

Should I take a chance and ship them by UPS or abide by NJ's law and tell him to quit smoking?

Neither. You should tell him "That's illegal, I won't take part." Whether he continues to smoke or not is none of your business.

 

[MadScientist]

UPS will also not ship cigarettes. Not sure about the other carriers.
http://www.ups.com/tobacco

I'm still on the fence about this, but leaning towards not shipping them.

 

[Wyndru]

Tell him to buy a machine and roll his own. It's really quick and simple, way cheaper, and there are tons of different tobacco and filters you can buy.

Take advantage of it before they tax the crap out of the tobacco too.

 

[surfsatwerk]

Don't be a douche, help your friend out.

 

[Old Hippie]

The UPS/FedEx decision to not ship cigs was self imposed in 2005 after a confrontation with New York's govt.

If you're afraid don't do it but the chances of getting caught are nil.

 

[lxskllr]

Tell him to buy a machine and roll his own. It's really quick and simple, way cheaper, and there are tons of different tobacco and filters you can buy.

Take advantage of it before they tax the crap out of the tobacco too.

Too late :^S

It might still be marginally cheaper, but they really jacked the price of loose tobacco up. I'd suggest he grow his own. I might do that next season. I've been watching other people do it, and it looks like a fun hobby.

 

[bobdole369]

Tell him to buy a machine and roll his own. It's really quick and simple, way cheaper, and there are tons of different tobacco and filters you can buy.

Take advantage of it before they tax the crap out of the tobacco too.

Ummm Wyndro - They already did that. The Roll-Your-Own market tanked with the same law that jacked smokes up towards $5/pack nationwide.

I used to do this, then wham - The price went from $25/2 cartons-ish - up past $75 carton. There is no way to roll your own and save money anymore.

One retailer that existed for years on the Internet is: www.cigarettetobacco.com

Have a peek at whats there now.

 

[Zee]

are you packing it in a transparent box?? how in the world do you think you will get caught?

i would go with the flatrate idea. i would also force your friend to buy a lot more and tell him he can only ask you once a year so stock up.

 

[Wyndru]

Ummm Wyndro - They already did that. The Roll-Your-Own market tanked with the same law that jacked smokes up towards $5/pack nationwide.

I used to do this, then wham - The price went from $25/2 cartons-ish - up past $75 carton. There is no way to roll your own and save money anymore.

One retailer that existed for years on the Internet is: www.cigarettetobacco.com

Have a peek at whats there now.

Woah, where are you buying your tobacco? I'm still getting about a carton out of $10 worth of tobacco here in upstate NY...just bought some this weekend from our local smoke shop. I've been rolling for the last 3 months, and although it went up a little bit with the last tax, it didn't go to $75 per carton D: