Connecticut General Statutes 12-289 – Vending machines; inspection and approval; identification; sealing on violation. Revocation of license; hearing
(a) Each cigarette vending machine licensed for use in this state shall be subject to the inspection and approval of the Commissioner of Revenue Services and only the owner of such machine or his authorized representative shall service and maintain such machines in good operating condition and only he shall provide for the replenishing of cigarettes in such machines. No cigarette vending machine shall be approved for use in this state unless it is so constructed, located and serviced that the Connecticut cigarette stamp or impression may be seen and identified on at least one package of each brand of cigarettes sold therein.
Terms Used In Connecticut General Statutes 12-289
- Cigarette: means and includes any roll for smoking made wholly or in part of tobacco, irrespective of size or shape, and irrespective of whether the tobacco is flavored, adulterated or mixed with any other ingredient, where such roll has a wrapper or cover made of paper or any other material, except where such wrapper is wholly or in the greater part made of tobacco and such roll weighs over three pounds per thousand, provided, if any roll for smoking has a wrapper made of homogenized tobacco or natural leaf tobacco, and the roll is a cigarette size so that it weighs three pounds or less per thousand, such roll is a cigarette and subject to the tax imposed by this part and part II of this chapter. See Connecticut General Statutes 12-285
- Cigarette vending machine: means a machine used for the purpose of automatically merchandising packaged cigarettes through the insertion of the proper amount of coins therein by the purchaser, but does not mean a restricted cigarette vending machine. See Connecticut General Statutes 12-285
- Person: means any individual, firm, fiduciary, partnership, corporation, limited liability company, trust or association, however formed. See Connecticut General Statutes 12-285
- Stamp: means any stamp authorized to be used under this chapter by the Commissioner of Revenue Services and includes heat-applied decals. See Connecticut General Statutes 12-285
(b) Each cigarette vending machine operator shall place and maintain in legible condition on the front of each vending machine operated or controlled by him, his name, address, telephone number and license number and a telephone number which may be called for service or to report misuse of the machine at any hour of the day if different from the number of the operator.
(c) Whenever a cigarette vending machine is not properly identified as required by this section, or whenever any unstamped cigarettes are found in any machine in violation of this chapter, or whenever any cigarette vending machine is placed in a location in violation of section 12-289a, the commissioner or an authorized agent of the commissioner shall seal the machine to prevent sale or removal of any cigarettes from the machine until such time as the violation is corrected in the presence of an authorized agent of the commissioner. Any person other than an authorized agent of the Commissioner of Revenue Services who knowingly removes or otherwise tampers with any seal or seals placed on any vending machine by the commissioner or an authorized agent shall be fined not more than one thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than one year or both. The commissioner may suspend or revoke the license of any cigarette vending machine operator for failure to comply with any of the provisions of this chapter or regulations related thereto, following a hearing with respect to which notice in writing, specifying the time and place of such hearing and requiring such operator to show cause why such license should not be revoked, is mailed or delivered to such operator not less than ten days preceding the date of such hearing. Such notice may be served personally or by registered or certified mail. The commissioner shall not issue a new license to a former licensee whose license was revoked unless the commissioner is satisfied that such former licensee will comply with the provisions of this chapter or regulations related thereto.