Posted on 03/17/2005 8:19:34 AM PST by SheLion
WASHINGTON, March 16 /U.S. Newswire/ -- The U.S. Postal Service will meet with representatives of various state attorneys general on Thursday to discuss how the Service can avoid legal liability for its role in delivering cigarettes sold illegally on the Internet. The result could be an agreement to curtail delivery of such cigarettes, or requirements that the sellers take steps such as verifying the age of purchasers, insuring that state cigarette taxes are paid, etc.
The meeting was sparked by a letter threatening the postal service with civil -- and possibly even criminal -- liability if it continues to deliver cigarettes purchased over the Internet. The nation's attorneys general have concluded that "virtually all" online tobacco retail sales are illegal, and several other companies which facilitate these sales have taken steps to reduce their potential legal liability by requiring Internet cigarette sales sites to provide proof that they fully comply with the law.
The letter to the Postal Service which sparked the meeting was sent by Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), a national antismoking organization. It warned that "under several legal theories which have already been sustained in court and/or resulted in settlements -- companies selling cigarettes on the Internet appear to be guilty of crimes and also may be civilly liable. Those who facilitate the illegal sales -- e.g., by delivering them - may share in that liability as co-conspirators, accomplices, and/or accessories."
ASH's letter warned that if the Postal Service "provides delivery services for these purchases, or otherwise facilitates them, it may share in the potential legal liability, as well as the public embarrassment likely to result if the company is charged with such conduct 1/8e.g. under the RICO statute 3/8 after it has been put on notice by the Attorneys General of the illegality of the sales and its role as facilitator."
ASH was advised of tomorrow's meeting in a letter faxed to it today by the General Counsel of the U.S. Postal Service. The Postal Service's letter states in part:
"This is to acknowledge the receipt of your letter dated March 9, 2005, wherein you express concern about Internet sales of cigarettes ... We take this matter very seriously and intend to respond to the substance of your letter once we have had the opportunity to consider the legal representations you assert in your correspondence ... I wish to assure you that we are sensitive to the concerns raised by you and state attorneys general concerning practices by certain cigarette retailers."
Ok! If it's illegal for the postal service to deliver cigarettes then where is this going to end? What about guns being sent through the postal service to consumers? Items won over Ebay? Mail Order items from catalogs?? And how is the postal service to KNOW what are cigarettes and what is not?!
I think the best thing for company's that sell cigarettes over the Internet is to change their names.
And what about all the illegal drugs one can purchase online? I get countless emails from drug company's selling Valium, Zanex, etc. You mean to tell me that THEY can continue selling their drugs online? What about the kiddies with THIS?
Puff Ping
To: Business, Consumer, Health Editors
Contact: Professor John F. Banzhaf of Action on Smoking and Health, 202-659-4310 or 703-527-8418, Website: http://ash.org
The lawmakers are too stupid to think of this. And this old prune Banzhaf is the worst nazi ever over smoking. He won't stop at nothing to continue to make smokers miserable. He is another one with his hands in the Tobacco Settlement money that is being paid for 100% by smoker's who pay taxes on cigarettes.
Stuff your own. If it comes down to it, grow, cure, and cut your own.
Give the tax and spend governments the proverbial finger.
Oh yes. Me too! Several every day. I block them. But what about these emails that we get to buy online drugs? These smoke nazi's are so obsessed with the smokers that it's sickening.
Kids can order the online drugs too. And do we see anything about that? Hell no!
Joe, you know me. I have been rolling my own now for over 4 years. The savings has been wonderful.
But I have found Stuffyourown.com on the net and since I love their bags of tobacco, I have been ordering from them for a few months now. I sure hope the postal service doesn't stop THEM from the mail!
In spite of your self-justifying rants, you have to know deep down you shold quit...
Again, smokers are being used as the excuse to gain more control. I'm sure the anti-smoking nazis are in front of the push, but behind them are groups wanting to regulate everything we buy over the Internet.
They have bad dreams about the millions of tax dollars lost through Internet sales.
Oh Buzz off!
How about your buddies that drink to much and/or physically abuse theirs wives? How about your boyfriends that are doing unprotected sex???? You bashing them too??? You better go after THEM before you come after us pervert.
And one more thing: this will have a trickle down effect if it passes and then YOU won't be getting your PORNO through the mail.
Think about it!
Is to cut the taxes back and folks will start buying locally again.
Good deals at smokewalk.com
Does your state have an excise tax, or even a sales tax, on bags of loose tobacco?
If they do it will probably come down to the state saying you owe them taxes on the tobacco you bought.
That's why I buy my tobacco locally.
I know I should quit, but I don't want to.
Cigarettes are not a health product, but they are not evil, either.
I believe you are right. The lawmakers have been fuming for several years about how they can regulate the Internet. I still don't think they can because as we all know it is the WWW..........WORLD WIDE WEB!
In spite of your self-justifying rants, you have to know deep down you shold quit...
And you need to use your spell checker, HILLBILLY!
I am loyal to StuffYourOwn.com. But thanks for the tip! :)
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