The Tennessee Department of Revenue tells WKRN News Extra that no one has been charged yet in a cigarette surveillance program along the state border. The department also says its Special Investigations Section has allocated approximately 10 agents to monitor the border for anyone transporting cigarettes from out of state. The effort was announced by the department on Sept. 21.
The Tennessee Center for Policy Research (TCPR) announced yesterday that it had uncovered “evidence showing that the state is bluffing about its cigarette surveillance program.”
“They’re bluffing because they know this program is completely unconstitutional, and if they were actually arresting people it would be overturned,” he said. “So it’s better to scare people into not crossing the border to buy cigarettes instead of actually enforcing the program.”
[No extra spending for state's increased cigarette enforcement - Tennessean - 10-23-07]
According to the Department of Revenue, anyone possessing more than 20 packs of cigarettes without a Tennessee revenue stamp is a misdemeanor. Cigarettes and any vehicle used to transport them are also subject to seizure. Possession of more than 25 cartons of untaxed cigarettes is a Class E felony.
Department spokesperson Sophie Moery said there is no additional budget for the surveillance program.
“The border surveillance project is a small facet of the cigarette enforcement program that includes year-round enforcement and seizure of counterfeit cigarettes, Master Settlement Agreement violations and unstamped cigarettes from Tennessee retailers,” Moery said.
– 10-23-07 – State Limits Funds To Catch Cigarette Smugglers
