Section 30474.1 Of Chapter 10. Violations From California Revenue And Taxation Code >> Division 2. >> Part 13. >> Chapter 10.
30474.1
. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the sale
or possession for sale of counterfeit tobacco products, or the sale
or possession for sale of counterfeit cigarettes by a manufacturer,
importer, distributor, wholesaler, or retailer shall result in the
seizure of the product by the board or any law enforcement agency and
shall constitute a misdemeanor punishable as follows:
(1) A violation with a total quantity of less than two cartons of
cigarettes shall be a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed
five thousand dollars ($5,000), or imprisonment not to exceed one
year in a county jail, or both fine and imprisonment, and shall also
result in the revocation by the board of the manufacturer,
distributor, or wholesale license.
(2) A violation with a quantity of two cartons of cigarettes or
more shall be a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed fifty
thousand dollars ($50,000) or imprisonment not to exceed one year in
a county jail, or both fine and imprisonment, and shall also result
in the revocation by the board of the manufacturer, distributor, or
wholesaler license.
(b) A court shall consider a defendant's ability to pay when
imposing fines pursuant to this section.
(c) For the purposes of this section, counterfeit cigarette and
tobacco products include cigarette and tobacco products that have
false manufacturing labels, false or fraudulent stamps or meter
impressions, or a combination thereof.
(d) The board shall seize and destroy any cigarettes or other
tobacco products forfeited to the state under this section.