Florida Update

[KevinV]

I stopped at a local tobacco shop today, my first trip back since the new tobacco tax went into law on the 1st, and was dismayed to find that a 1.5 oz. pouch of OTC pipe tobacco had gone up to $8.49...which does not include the regular sales tax. So you're looking at $9.10 out the door for 1.5 ounces of Prince Albert. That's just crazy.

Do you live close to the border and plan to just head over to get your goods? They have that covered too...

"The Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco's 160 sworn agents will be coordinating efforts with counterparts in Georgia and Alabama and with Florida agricultural inspectors, as they prepare for a potential new wave of smuggling."

And it only takes 3 cartons of cigarettes to be considered a smuggler. They are capping it out at 2 cartons allowed to be brought into the state. Until they define the law further I would imagine that a box of cigars or a large tin of tobacco would be considered the equivalent of a carton to the enforcers.

OK, let's avoid the whole smuggling operation and just order online. Ahhhh, yes, they've already thought of that one too...

"State regulators also will be busy ramping up a way to tax Internet tobacco sales, a new duty for them, Carpenter said."

I've seen 2 models for this so far, one would be a tax of 60% of the wholesale cost, the other would be $1 per ounce.

Our once tobacco friendly state and cigar capital is no longer...and it's going to get worse with future legislation. I'm not trying to be a pessimist, I'm merely reporting on current events.

I've decided to put back as much as I can while I still can. Thankfully my tastes are simple so I don't have to put a lot of effort into deciding what to get, only how much. With the headhunting that is going on now in an effort to raise cash for the state, I'm sure they'll move the next bit of legislation through as quickly as possible. The $1/ounce tax model would nearly double the cost of my current online tobacco order.

What's next...pipes and tampers labeled as illegal paraphernalia? It sounds ridiculous, but not impossible.

*The above quotes came from the 01 July, 2009 issue of The News-Press out of Fort Myers, FL.

[gboyet93]

Just remember, It's for the children.............. 30 year old children thought it may be.

[Alpedhuez55]

This stuff is getting crazy!!! $9 for a pouch of PA? Why does that tax increase cigarettes by $1 a pack and Pipe Tobacco by $7 even though Pipe Smoking is much safer than cigarettes? At least they exempted cigars.

[DSturg369]

I've said it before and I still believe it to be true. "Big Brother" is digging it's own grave and the common man is getting tired of it quick, fast, and in a hurry. I see troubled times in the near future for The U Govt and it's slaves, I mean people..

[gboyet93]

Originally Posted by DSturg369

I've said it before and I still believe it to be true. "Big Brother" is digging it's own grave and the common man is getting tired of it quick, fast, and in a hurry. I see troubled times in the near future for The U Govt and it's slaves, I mean people..

I agree! At what point do free people decide enough is enough. History repeats itself. We are taxed to death by politicians who only care about their job, and not the people of this great county. Example: Senator Arlen Specter (D-Pa.), or was he a republican? Honestly, I don't care what is party of choice he is, I believe he is trador to the American people.... Sorry if I offended someone. No, I am not sorry if I offended someone. My opinion is just as valid as anyone else's.

[ghe]

Florida has long had a fairly high state pipe tobacco tax compared to the non-existent state tax on premium cigars. I believe the smuggling you're referring to relates to the $1 a cigarette pack additional state tax that went into effect in Florida July 1 and changed it from a state that had a fairly low cigarette tax to one that is much higher. As to the recent SCHIP tax increase, for pipe tobacco it went from $1.0969 per pound to $2.8126 per pound, which breaks down to an addition of just under 11 cents an ounce. SO you can figure you'll pay 22 cents more an ounce if your retailer keystones the wholesale price.

[Zeabed]

Outrageous. I have difficult registering it yet. Predatory rapine has replaced responsible government altogether and nakedly. I'll finish stocking up online as best I can before they complete plans to "ramp up" the internet sales too. But just imagine it: they will be checking people coming into South Florida from Georgia as if we were international travel! This is the real precedent that they want to install with these measures, aside from outright plunder.

[mighty]

People need to be fed up with the system enough to be motivated to actually do something about it. Whether that's writing your senators, campaigning to remove them from office at election time, or other legal methods we still currently have, something needs to be done. Its too easy though for many to hope that "someone" else will do it.

Unfortunately with so many people feeling they are owed something by everyone else (mostly the government) we are evolving into a Nanny state where the majority of the people expect the government to provide for them, instead of providing for themselves.

The current theme of governments across the nation is that they know what is best for your life. We are moving away from the founding idea that God gave us all our rights and into the idea that the government gives us our rights. Problem is that if the government gives us our rights, then they can take them away as they desire as well.

Just some thoughts I guess.

[defcon3]

May I vent here for a moment...

I know it's a pipe tobacco thread, but it is all relative...

I live in Florida and I am a cigarette smoker, not for much longer it appears....

The price for a carton of Marlboro Ultra Lights is now $50.00 from $37.50 a week ago!!!!! And that is at the Indian Reservations!!!! WTF!?! I cannot afford the habbit anymore...

Several months back they were $27.00!!!

The lady working there informed me that the government raised taxes on all tobacco products...

I guess cigar prices are going to skyrocket as well...

I am 34 y/o, I realize not everyone here @ puff.com smokes cigarettes, and I understand the health implications, and know I need to quit sooner or later, but this is freaking crazy!?! To be forced to quit because they want to make it unaffordable??? This is beyond taxes!!!

I believe this is only the begining unfortunately... Watch, they will start doing the same crap to all things pleasurable e.g. Candy, Soda, Booze, Fried Foods, you name it... All in the name of health!!! Right...

WTH is happening to our Country?

I will sign petitions and do what I can, but sadly we are at a point where our government (Rep or Dem) no longer work for us who vote them into office but for their own greedy interests.

[Alpedhuez55]

Originally Posted by KevinV

I stopped at a local tobacco shop today, my first trip back since the new tobacco tax went into law on the 1st, and was dismayed to find that a 1.5 oz. pouch of OTC pipe tobacco had gone up to $8.49...which does not include the regular sales tax. So you're looking at $9.10 out the door for 1.5 ounces of Prince Albert. That's just crazy.

From what I could find on the law, it said there would be an increase from 25% to 60% on the wholesale price. So $8.49 for a pouch sounds wrong. I wonder if they are gouging the pipe customers. I would check a few more retailers.

[phatmax]

Watch.

The next step is REGISTRATION of "known" smokers. You won't be allowed to purchase over "x" amount of product in "y" amount of time.

If you are not a registered smoker, you will not be able to purchase ANY tobacco product, because if you do, you are obviously a smuggler.

Think this is crazy?.....then how are they going to be fighting smuggling...besides random or fixed "checkpoints" where you get searched simply because you are traveling between states?

[gboyet93]

Originally Posted by defcon3

May I vent here for a moment...

I know it's a pipe tobacco thread, but it is all relative...

I live in Florida and I am a cigarette smoker, not for much longer it appears....

The price for a carton of Marlboro Ultra Lights is now $50.00 from $37.50 a week ago!!!!! And that is at the Indian Reservations!!!! WTF!?! I cannot afford the habbit anymore...

Several months back they were $27.00!!!

The lady working there informed me that the government raised taxes on all tobacco products...

I guess cigar prices are going to skyrocket as well...

I am 34 y/o, I realize not everyone here @ puff.com smokes cigarettes, and I understand the health implications, and know I need to quit sooner or later, but this is freaking crazy!?! To be forced to quit because they want to make it unaffordable??? This is beyond taxes!!!

I believe this is only the beginning unfortunately... Watch, they will start doing the same crap to all things pleasurable e.g. Candy, Soda, Booze, Fried Foods, you name it... All in the name of health!!! Right...

WTH is happening to our Country?

I will sign petitions and do what I can, but sadly we are at a point where our government (Rep or Dem) no longer work for us who vote them into office but for their own greedy interests.

Why must we cut back our expenses when money is tight, but the government and our politician actually raise our taxes when revenue is down? Why should they not be forced to make cuts like everyone else? I am just sick of the crap. " We have a budget shortfall, so we are going to raise the tax only 3%."

[phatmax]

LOL, so much for keeping politics out of the General forum.....

But.... If we are not aware of what is happening, we will all lose our freedom, no matter what side of the fence we are on.

[Zeabed]

Originally Posted by phatmax

LOL, so much for keeping politics out of the General forum.....

But.... If we are not aware of what is happening, we will all lose our freedom, no matter what side of the fence we are on.

Can't be helped. Politicians should have kept out of our pipesmoke. A previous poster was right when he adverted that the next step is smoker registration. I remember many people telling me that what's happening now would never happen in Florida. And they told me that just weeks and days ago. Look at us now.

[phatmax]

Originally Posted by Zeabed

Can't be helped. Politicians should have kept out of our pipesmoke. A previous poster was right when he adverted that the next step is smoker registration. I remember many people telling me that what's happening now would never happen in Florida. And they told me that just weeks and days ago. Look at us now.

well, the people that are attacking our personal choice live and breathe their will to exert control over others.

We can no longer sit by and enjoy our pasttime and hope that others will defend us.