vape" data-source="post: 18204539" class="bbCodeBlock bbCodeBlock--expandable bbCodeBlock--quote js-expandWatch">That's EXACTLY how it's done, Matt. Trust me, been there done that.The state has a mail gestapo agent or agents and "suspect packages" are then "scanned". Up here they had the courtesy to slap a "Contents Scanned" sticker on the package so you knew they were on to you. They'd let a half dozen or so of those go through, then send you a letter stating you owe "X" in back taxes OR we can prosecute you and fine you $5,000 and up to 2 years in jail. Will that be personal check or CC??? Pa. seems to have stolen a play from Ak.'s play book. Adding 3 years to the jail time was a nice touch though. Very progressive. NOT!!!
No need for the Tin Foil Hat :: The cyber-surveillance systems already in place can be used to notify any agency immediately after an online purchase is made .. the simple use of key word programming, drawing from a database of known e-cig / liquid on-line Vendors and other techniques can be utilized to flag any package, regardless of any other scanning / x-ray that might happen along the way .. the advent of the Tracking Number, which so many know and love, has it's own Dark Side .. these are the real facts of how the system can be used to identify suspected cross State shipments containing anything .. especially when shipped from a Business ..
Under the Mail Isolation Control and Tracking program, the U.S. Postal Service photographs the exterior of every piece of mail that is processed in the United States — about 160 billion pieces per year, estimated. The U.S. Postmaster General stated that the system is primarily used for mail sorting, but the images are available for possible use by law enforcement agencies, State Tax Collection entities, etc .. it is an expansion of a 100-year-old program called "mail cover" which targets people suspected of crimes .. which, I believe, was used against Tommy Chong during the investigation against him, if memory serves ..
.. the really sad part about the Pennsylvania legislation is, it seems to me it was just another knee jerk money grab, ending up putting the Vape Industry in PA under extreme duress, possibly causing the shutdown of B&M's, etc .. with the end result being loss of State revenue, rather than gain .. a classic case of the least important part of a situation having too much influence over the most important part, or "The Tail Wagging The Dog" .. if you want to increase Tax Revenue, the market should be encouraged to grow, rather than targeted for a cash grab that you may never see ..
I'm no expert, but logic tells me that the bulk of the e-cig Industry does not have the cash reserves the tobacco industry has .. It is made up of literally hundreds of suppliers from all over the World, including China. The Chinese wholesalers and manufacturers that make up much of the Industry network will not bother to apply for any wholesale licenses, nor will they willingly collect and remit taxes to PA, as well as PA being unable to collect from China .. And the retailers are small, with many being new businesses. They do not have billions in cash just laying around like Phillip-Morris does. If a store has an inventory of $100,000 .. the state expects them to write a check for $40,000 in about 90 days .. How many local, family owned type businesses do you know that have that kind of liquid capital just sitting in the bank?
PA joins the long list of States that are digging around the couch cushions looking for loose change and don't seem to give much thought to how real Economic and subsequent Tax Growth can and would take place .. Short term greed generally always stops long term gain .. and, at some point, the Black Market kicks in ..
