(a)  The administrator or his or her duly authorized agent shall have authority to enter and inspect, without a warrant during normal business hours, and with a warrant during nonbusiness hours, the facilities and records of any manufacturer, importer, distributor, or dealer.

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Terms Used In Rhode Island General Laws 44-20-40.1

  • Administrator: means the tax administrator;

    (2)  "Cigarettes" means and includes any cigarettes suitable for smoking in cigarette form, and each sheet of cigarette rolling paper, including but not limited to, paper made into a hollow cylinder or cone, made with paper or any other material, with or without a filter suitable for use in making cigarettes;

    (3)  "Dealer" means any person whether located within or outside of this state, who sells or distributes cigarettes and/or other tobacco products to a consumer in this state;

    (4)  "Distributor" means any person:

    (A)  Whether located within or outside of this state, other than a dealer, who sells or distributes cigarettes and/or other tobacco products within or into this state. See Rhode Island General Laws 44-20-1

  • Importer: means any person who imports into the United States, either directly or indirectly, a finished cigarette or other tobacco product for sale or distribution;

    (6)  "Licensed" when used with reference to a manufacturer, importer, distributor or dealer, means only those persons who hold a valid and current license issued under § 44-20-2 for the type of business being engaged in. See Rhode Island General Laws 44-20-1

  • Manufacturer: means any person who manufactures, fabricates, assembles, processes, or labels a finished cigarette and/or other tobacco products;

    (8)  "Other tobacco products" (OTP) means any cigars (excluding Little Cigars, as defined in Rhode Island General Laws 44-20-1

(b)  In any case where the administrator or his or her duly authorized agent, or any police officer of this state, has knowledge or reasonable grounds to believe that any vehicle is transporting cigarettes or other tobacco products in violation of this chapter, the administrator, such agent, or such police officer, is authorized to stop such vehicle and to inspect the same for contraband cigarettes or other tobacco products.

History of Section.
P.L. 2007, ch. 246, § 2; P.L. 2007, ch. 250, § 2; P.L. 2017, ch. 302, art. 8, § 15.