Rhode Island proposes new bill that will make online purchases a PITA

[p-doze]

rhode island is proposing to apply the same laws to online e-cigs sales as they did to online tobacco sales in 2000.




Rhode Island and New England vapers,
If you are getting this is it because you live close enough to help us stop the Rhode Island legislation that would make it very hard for people in Rhode Island to purchase e-cigarettes online.
SB 622 is scheduled for a hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday, April 9th at 3:30pm
Room 313
State House
Providence
Rhode Island


If you are in or around Rhode Island and can attend or speak at the hearing, please email us at vapersclub@aol.com or call us at 516 695 7007 and we will let you know how you can help.
You do not need to speak, but it helps a lot of you can. Just showing up will make a difference.
(Below is from the CASAA website)
This bill would:
Ban e-cigarette sales to minors, but would also greatly restrict online sales of nicotine-containing products by treating e-cigarettes the same as traditional tobacco products.
Specifically, the bill would require a retailer conducting an online sale to: (1) Obtain a copy of the buyer's driver's license; (2) Obtain a statement from the buyer affirming that they are the person pictured; and (3) Send the package through a service that checks the ID of the buyer at delivery. Retailers would be required to perform this check every time a consumer places an order.
SB 622 would also require e-cigarette retailers in Rhode Island to obtain a tobacco license and only buy their e-cigarettes from licensed wholesalers or distributors.


If you cannot attend, or even if you can, please call, write or fax the members of the Senate Judiciary Committee below
What to say:
You support supports prohibiting the sale of e-cigarettes and other nicotine-containing products to minors, but do not support SB 622 in its current form.


Express your concern about Section 11-9-13.11 of the bill, which would restrict the online sales of vapor products.
Explain that the restrictions would place Rhode Island e-cigarette vendors at a competitive disadvantage by:
Instituting a system that will impose significant costs for compliance.
Imposing restrictions on consumers (i.e., requiring signature confirmed delivery and age/identity proof with every subsequent sale to the same purchaser) that will cause consumers to purchase their products from out-of-state vendors.
Note that the legislation would also overly burden consumers by requiring all shipments to repeat customers to be sent via a method that requires an in-person signature upon delivery. This adds cost and is inconvenient for those who are not home to receive the delivery.
Tell the legislators that restrictions on online sales were instituted for two reasons: (1) Cigarette companies blatantly marketed to kids; and (2) Online sales were being used to evade taxes. Because there is no evidence that a single child has been sold an e-cigarette online and e-cigarettes are not taxed in Rhode Island, there is no reason to implement such an onerous provision.
Explain that online sales bans only serve to protect the market share of cigarette companies.


cigarette law:

Youth Access Laws for Internet Cigarette
Retailers
When tested in compliance checks, Internet cigarette retailers frequently sell to children. Many states have reacted by passing youth access laws tailored specifically for Internet cigarette retailers. Rhode Island became the first such state in 2000. Before shipping a tobacco product into Rhode Island, Internet cigarette retailers must obtain a copy of the customer's government identification showing that he or she is at least 18 years of age, along with a written attestation as to the authenticity and accuracy of the photocopy. Internet cigarette retailers selling to Rhode Island customers must also limit delivery to the address listed on the identification and use a delivery service that requires the signature of the addressee or another adult.
Since Rhode Island passed its law in 2000, numerous states have adopted similar laws with additional requirements. For example, California mandates that Internet cigarette retailers check back with customers, in part to confirm that the potential customer is an adult.

 

[xhuffer]

For example, California mandates that Internet cigarette retailers check back with customers, in part to confirm that the potential customer is an adult.
Don't know where this comes from but it is total BS. I live in CA, have never heard of this & no internet reatailer has ever checked back with me.

 

[DJ RyckRak]

Yep-
There goes RI killing business and commerce again.

Hide behind 'Protecting the Children' ANTZ/BT.

I stand with RI vapers right to be Tobacco Free !

 

[eratikmind]

They tried that same thing here, in California, with regard to online out of state ammo sales. That failed, for the time being. They may have better success with ecig related items in your area.


- Andy . . . Challenge in lieu of being challenged.