Comments on: Economic irony involving smoking, Michigan and Ohio… http://glasscityjungle.com/wordpress/2008/12/economic-irony-involving-smoking-michigan-and-ohio/ Wed, 18 Aug 2010 02:25:57 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: LisaRenee http://glasscityjungle.com/wordpress/2008/12/economic-irony-involving-smoking-michigan-and-ohio/#comment-320093 LisaRenee Thu, 04 Dec 2008 00:46:29 +0000 http://glasscityjungle.com/wordpress/?p=4629#comment-320093 <a href="http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2008/05/ohio_pursuing_unpaid_cigarette.html" rel="nofollow">Ohio</a> has done it too: <blockquote>The state is smoking out Ohio smokers who evaded cigarette taxes by shopping online between July and March. Nearly 5,500 buyers should expect a bill for unpaid excise and use taxes on cigarettes purchased during that nine-month period, the Ohio Department of Taxation announced Monday. The combined tab? More than $2.15 million, including nearly $370,000 owed to Cuyahoga County. The largest bill -- $2,700 -- belongs to a Huron County resident who bought 2,160 packs from out-of-state Internet vendors. Most bills are less than $600. They must be paid within 30 days, according to the department, which did not release names</blockquote> Ohio has done it too:

The state is smoking out Ohio smokers who evaded cigarette taxes by shopping online between July and March.

Nearly 5,500 buyers should expect a bill for unpaid excise and use taxes on cigarettes purchased during that nine-month period, the Ohio Department of Taxation announced Monday. The combined tab? More than $2.15 million, including nearly $370,000 owed to Cuyahoga County.

The largest bill — $2,700 — belongs to a Huron County resident who bought 2,160 packs from out-of-state Internet vendors. Most bills are less than $600. They must be paid within 30 days, according to the department, which did not release names

]]> By: GraphicsGuy http://glasscityjungle.com/wordpress/2008/12/economic-irony-involving-smoking-michigan-and-ohio/#comment-320085 GraphicsGuy Wed, 03 Dec 2008 23:34:27 +0000 http://glasscityjungle.com/wordpress/?p=4629#comment-320085 Okay, so we have the <b>Feral Govt</b> ....ahhh.. I mean <b>Federal</b> Govt requesting (demanding?) sales receipts from businesses based on SUSPICION there were crimes committed? Misdemeanor crimes at that! GREAT! Just freakin' GREAT! I do love my government....I do love my government....I do love my government....I do love my government....I do love my government.... (Thinking that if I say it enough, I'll convince myself an overthrow isn't VERY much needed) Can you say <b><i>"Ruby Ridge"</i></b>? Okay, so we have the Feral Govt ….ahhh.. I mean Federal Govt requesting (demanding?) sales receipts from businesses based on SUSPICION there were crimes committed? Misdemeanor crimes at that!

GREAT! Just freakin’ GREAT!

I do love my government….I do love my government….I do love my government….I do love my government….I do love my government….

(Thinking that if I say it enough, I’ll convince myself an overthrow isn’t VERY much needed)

Can you say “Ruby Ridge”?

]]> By: bucknut http://glasscityjungle.com/wordpress/2008/12/economic-irony-involving-smoking-michigan-and-ohio/#comment-320076 bucknut Wed, 03 Dec 2008 22:18:43 +0000 http://glasscityjungle.com/wordpress/?p=4629#comment-320076 <b>GraphicsGuy</b> wrote: <blockquote>(Quoting Toledo Free Press) “Department of Treasury flagged more than 23,000 residents over 31/2 years who owe taxes on tobacco bought from Internet or mail-order companies. Total taxes and penalties from those sales was $36 million.” Anyone have any ideas as to how they came up with these figures? </blockquote> The internet tobacco companies cooperated with LE and gave them info on who they sold to. GraphicsGuy wrote:

(Quoting Toledo Free Press) “Department of Treasury flagged more than 23,000 residents over 31/2 years who owe taxes on tobacco bought from Internet or mail-order companies. Total taxes and penalties from those sales was $36 million.”

Anyone have any ideas as to how they came up with these figures?

The internet tobacco companies cooperated with LE and gave them info on who they sold to.

]]> By: GraphicsGuy http://glasscityjungle.com/wordpress/2008/12/economic-irony-involving-smoking-michigan-and-ohio/#comment-319977 GraphicsGuy Tue, 02 Dec 2008 08:43:37 +0000 http://glasscityjungle.com/wordpress/?p=4629#comment-319977 (Quoting Toledo Free Press) <i>"Department of Treasury flagged more than 23,000 residents over 31/2 years who owe taxes on tobacco bought from Internet or mail-order companies. Total taxes and penalties from those sales was $36 million."</i> Anyone have any ideas as to how they came up with these figures? (Quoting Toledo Free Press) “Department of Treasury flagged more than 23,000 residents over 31/2 years who owe taxes on tobacco bought from Internet or mail-order companies. Total taxes and penalties from those sales was $36 million.”

Anyone have any ideas as to how they came up with these figures?

]]> By: LisaRenee http://glasscityjungle.com/wordpress/2008/12/economic-irony-involving-smoking-michigan-and-ohio/#comment-319975 LisaRenee Tue, 02 Dec 2008 05:45:10 +0000 http://glasscityjungle.com/wordpress/?p=4629#comment-319975 The State Police would be the ones who would be given the task if the law is changed in Michigan. The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has also been stated has given state's assistance in this. The State Police would be the ones who would be given the task if the law is changed in Michigan. The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has also been stated has given state’s assistance in this.

]]> By: Ben Keeler http://glasscityjungle.com/wordpress/2008/12/economic-irony-involving-smoking-michigan-and-ohio/#comment-319973 Ben Keeler Tue, 02 Dec 2008 05:07:26 +0000 http://glasscityjungle.com/wordpress/?p=4629#comment-319973 can I ask an obvious question.....who is checking cars for cigarettes on the Ohio / Michigan border? can I ask an obvious question…..who is checking cars for cigarettes on the Ohio / Michigan border?

]]> By: Brian Maxson http://glasscityjungle.com/wordpress/2008/12/economic-irony-involving-smoking-michigan-and-ohio/#comment-319964 Brian Maxson Tue, 02 Dec 2008 03:05:45 +0000 http://glasscityjungle.com/wordpress/?p=4629#comment-319964 eek! As many times as I crossed into Michigan off Telegraph road to the county line store for $9.99 cases of Molsen lo so many years ago! WHEW!!! Graphics, cigarettes, unlike many of the commerce you've listed, has a tax stamp from the state of origin. <i>The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cigarette_tax_stamp" rel="nofollow">1978 Contraband Cigarette Act</a> prohibits the transport, receipt, shipment, possession, distribution, or purchase of more than 60,000 cigarettes (300 cartons) <b>not bearing the official tax stamp of the U.S. state in which the cigarettes are located.</b></i> eek! As many times as I crossed into Michigan off Telegraph road to the county line store for $9.99 cases of Molsen lo so many years ago! WHEW!!!

Graphics, cigarettes, unlike many of the commerce you’ve listed, has a tax stamp from the state of origin.

The 1978 Contraband Cigarette Act prohibits the transport, receipt, shipment, possession, distribution, or purchase of more than 60,000 cigarettes (300 cartons) not bearing the official tax stamp of the U.S. state in which the cigarettes are located.

]]> By: GraphicsGuy http://glasscityjungle.com/wordpress/2008/12/economic-irony-involving-smoking-michigan-and-ohio/#comment-319960 GraphicsGuy Tue, 02 Dec 2008 02:56:34 +0000 http://glasscityjungle.com/wordpress/?p=4629#comment-319960 I guess the next question is - If this Commerce Clause has been around for a few years and is part of the original Constitution of the United States, then why are Michigan & Ohio (and probably other states as well) attempting to 'bypass' it? 1 of 2 answers to that question: 1) They know about Article 1, Section 8, Clause 3, but are going to forge ahead anyway, the Constitution be damned. 2) They've never heard of it and are enforcing their laws in complete and utter ignorance. No matter which answer, the responsible parties should have their license to practice law revoked. If the parties responsible are elected officials, then it should be made known that these folks are UnAmerican and are NOT the people to vote for in the next election. The People need to speak, and loudly! I guess the next question is – If this Commerce Clause has been around for a few years and is part of the original Constitution of the United States, then why are Michigan & Ohio (and probably other states as well) attempting to ‘bypass’ it? 1 of 2 answers to that question:

1) They know about Article 1, Section 8, Clause 3, but are going to forge ahead anyway, the Constitution be damned.
2) They’ve never heard of it and are enforcing their laws in complete and utter ignorance.

No matter which answer, the responsible parties should have their license to practice law revoked.

If the parties responsible are elected officials, then it should be made known that these folks are UnAmerican and are NOT the people to vote for in the next election.

The People need to speak, and loudly!

]]> By: LisaRenee http://glasscityjungle.com/wordpress/2008/12/economic-irony-involving-smoking-michigan-and-ohio/#comment-319951 LisaRenee Mon, 01 Dec 2008 23:52:47 +0000 http://glasscityjungle.com/wordpress/?p=4629#comment-319951 Thanks Upgrayedd, I knew they were going to challenge based on the Commerce Clause, but I didn't remember if there had been an outcome on that case. It seemed fair to point out that Michigan was not the only one looking for people at the border to nail them for things bought in another state. Thanks Upgrayedd, I knew they were going to challenge based on the Commerce Clause, but I didn’t remember if there had been an outcome on that case.

It seemed fair to point out that Michigan was not the only one looking for people at the border to nail them for things bought in another state.

]]> By: GraphicsGuy http://glasscityjungle.com/wordpress/2008/12/economic-irony-involving-smoking-michigan-and-ohio/#comment-319950 GraphicsGuy Mon, 01 Dec 2008 23:41:25 +0000 http://glasscityjungle.com/wordpress/?p=4629#comment-319950 And a hearty THANKS to upgraydd. I vaguely remembered something about the commerce clause, but try as I might, I could not find where it was! And a hearty THANKS to upgraydd. I vaguely remembered something about the commerce clause, but try as I might, I could not find where it was!

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