February 28, 2000

Chewelah- Liquor Control Board enforcement agents cited three individuals Saturday for purchasing untaxed cigarettes from a Native American smoke shop located in the Chewelah area. The citation is a gross misdemeanor with a penalty set by the local court. Six cartons of untaxed cigarettes were also seized from the individuals.

It is against state law to possess or transport untaxed cigarettes. The following civil penalties can apply:

• Seizure of the cigarettes
• Seizure of the vehicle used to transport the cigarettes
• A remedial penalty of either $10 per pack or $250 (whichever is greater)
• Taxes and interest

Washington imposes a cigarette tax of 82.5 cents per pack ($8.25 per carton) on the sale, use, possession, or distribution of cigarettes. The state loses approximately $114 million annually in cigarette tax revenues to people who neglect to pay the tax.

Since 1997, the Liquor Control Board, through its enforcement actions, has assisted the state in recouping $1.3 million in lost cigarette tax revenues. To date, the Board has conducted thirteen individual purchaser operations, confiscating 1,293 packs of cigarettes. The Board continues to perform individual purchaser operations throughout the state, urging voluntary payment of the cigarette tax by consumers.

For more information please contact Tricia Currier at (360) 664-1784 or page at (360) 290-3683. You may also contact Gigi Zenk at (360) 664-1774 or page at (360) 534-8098.

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