[R.O. 1996 § 625.010; CC 1968 § 6-1; Ord. No. 280 § 1, 4-20-1965; Ord. No. 2949 § 1, 12-16-1996]
When used in this Chapter, the following words shall have the meanings herein indicated:
CIGARETTE
An item manufactured of tobacco or any substitute therefor, wrapped in paper or any substitute therefor, weighing not to exceed three (3) pounds per one thousand (1,000) cigarettes and which is commonly classified, labeled or advertised as a cigarette.
CIGARETTE VENDING MACHINE
Any automatic vending machine used for the sale of cigarettes and matches or cigarettes only, and controlled by the insertion of a coin or coins.
DEALER
Any person dealing directly with the manufacturer of cigarettes in their purchase and in the business of selling cigarettes as a first seller.
ELECTRONIC CIGARETTE
Vapes, e-hookahs, vape pens, electronic cigar, electronic cigarillo, electronic pipe, electronic nicotine delivery system, vapor cartridge or other container of liquid nicotine, or any product that works by heating a liquid containing nicotine to produce an aerosol that users inhale into their lungs.
[Ord. No. 4872, 11-18-2019[1]]
MERCHANT
Shall include wholesalers and retailers as described above and further, every person, corporation, copartnership or association of persons, who shall deal in the selling of cigarettes at any store, stand or place occupied for that purpose, in the City of Blue Springs, Missouri. The term, "merchant" shall also include any one of the above who owns, rents or leases or controls one (1) or more cigarette vending machines as described herein.
OCCUPATION LICENSE TAX
The tax imposed by the City under this Chapter on the business and for the privilege of selling cigarettes at retail in the City.
PACKAGE OF CIGARETTES
A container of any type composition in which is normally contained twenty (20) individual cigarettes, except as in special instances when the number may be more or less than twenty (20).
RETAILER
Any person who sells to a consumer or to any person for any purpose other than resale.
SALE
Includes sales, barters, exchanges and every other manner, method and form of transferring the ownership of personal property from one person to another. “Sale” also means the possession of cigarettes or tobacco products by any person other than a manufacturer, wholesaler or retailer and shall be prima facie evidence of possession for consumption.
WHOLESALER
Any person, firm or corporation organized and existing, or doing business, primarily to sell cigarettes or tobacco products to, and render service to, retailers in the territory the person, firm or corporation chooses to serve; that purchases cigarettes or tobacco products directly from the manufacturer; that carries at all times at their or its principal place of business a representative stock of cigarettes or tobacco products for sale; and that comes into the possession of cigarettes or tobacco products for the purpose of selling them to retailers or to persons outside or within the State who might resell or retail the cigarettes or tobacco products to consumers. This shall include any manufacturer, jobber, broker, agent or other person, whether or not enumerated in this Chapter, who so sells or so distributes cigarettes or tobacco products.
[1]
Editor's Note: Ord. No. 4872 also changed the title of Chapter 625 from "Cigarettes" to "Cigarettes and Electronic Cigarettes."
[R.O. 1996 § 625.020; CC 1968 § 6-2; Ord. No. 280 § 12, 4-20-1965; Ord. No. 1931 § 1, 3-19-1990; Ord. No. 4872, 11-18-2019[1]]
A. 
It shall be unlawful for any wholesaler, retailer, merchant or other person to sell or permit the sale on premises under their control within the corporate limits of the City, cigarettes or tobacco products as described herein to any person who is not at least twenty-one (21) years of age. The provisions of this Section shall apply to the sale of cigarettes through cigarette vending machines as well as other sales.
[Ord. No. 4906, 5-18-2020]
B. 
It shall be unlawful for any wholesaler, retailer, merchant, or other person to sell or permit the sale on premises under their control within the corporate limits of the City, electronic cigarettes as described herein to any person who is not at least twenty-one (21) years of age. The provisions of this Subsection shall apply to the sale of electronic cigarettes through vending machines as well as other sales. This Subsection shall not apply to products used to administer medical marijuana sold at medical marijuana dispensaries licensed by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.
C. 
Any person who violates this Section shall be fined as set forth in Section 100.080.
[1]
Editor's Note: Ord. No. 4872 also changed the title of this Section from "Sales To Minors Prohibited" to "Sales Prohibited."
[R.O. 1996 § 625.025; Ord. No. 3425 § 1, 10-1-2001; Ord. No. 4872, 11-18-2019[1]]
A. 
No person less than eighteen (18) years of age shall purchase, attempt to purchase or possess cigarettes or other tobacco products unless such person is an employee of a seller of cigarettes or tobacco products and is in such possession to effect a sale in the course of employment or an employee of the Division of Liquor Control for enforcement purposes pursuant to Subsection (5) of Section 407.934, RSMo.
B. 
No person less than eighteen (18) years of age shall misrepresent their age to purchase cigarettes or tobacco products.
C. 
No person less than twenty-one (21) years of age shall purchase, attempt to purchase or possess electronic cigarettes unless such person is an employee of a seller of alternative nicotine products or vapor products and is in such possession to effect a sale in the course of employment or an employee of the Division of Liquor Control for enforcement purposes pursuant to Subsection (5) of Section 407.934, RSMo. This Subsection shall not apply to products used to administer medical marijuana sold at medical marijuana dispensaries licensed by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.
D. 
No person less than twenty-one (21) years of age shall misrepresent their age to purchase electronic cigarettes.
E. 
Any person who violates the provisions of this Section shall be penalized as set forth in Section 100.080.
[1]
Editor's Note: Ord. No. 4872 also changed the title of this Section from "Possession By Minors Prohibited" to "Possession Prohibited."
[R.O. 1996 § 625.030; CC 1968 § 6-3; Ord. No. 280 § 13, 4-20-1965]
Any wholesaler, jobber, retailer, merchant or person who shall violate any provision of this Chapter shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction, in addition to other punishment or forfeiture set forth and provided for herein, shall be punished as set forth in Section 100.080. Each day that a violation continues shall be deemed to be a separate offense.
[R.O. 1996 § 625.040; CC 1968 § 6-14; Ord. No. 280 § 2, 4-20-1965; Ord. No. 419 § 1, 3-3-1969]
Every merchant or other person engaged in selling cigarettes or offering, delivering or displaying the same for sale within the City, including but not limited to the sale, offering, delivering or displaying thereof, through vending machines, shall procure an occupation license therefor for each place of business that they desire to have for sale or distribution of cigarettes, and at the time such license is issued shall pay to the Director of Finance an occupation license tax at the rate of two dollars ($2.00) per thousand (1,000) for each and all cigarettes sold, offered, delivered or displayed for sale in the City.
[1]
Editor's Note: R.O. 1996 § 625.050, Cigarette Vending Machine License — Required — Application — Fee, was removed by the City during the 2019 recodification project.
[R.O. 1996 § 625.060; CC 1968 § 6-16; Ord. No. 280 § 4, 4-20-1965; Ord. No. 2949 § 3, 12-16-1996]
A. 
Tax Levy. Every dealer or wholesaler engaged in the business of selling cigarettes or offering or displaying the same for sale within the City shall pay the tax set forth in Section 625.040 for each package of twenty (20) cigarettes sold or offered or displayed for sale. This tax shall be paid but once, as provided for in Subsection (B)(2) of this Section, and only by the dealer/wholesaler selling cigarettes or displaying or offering them for sale.
B. 
Monthly Tax Payment.
1. 
The tax provided for in Subsection (A) of this Section shall be paid to the Director of Finance.
2. 
It shall be the duty of every dealer or wholesaler, as defined in Section 625.010, selling, offering or displaying for sale any package of cigarettes, to remit the monthly cigarette tax reporting form and full payment by the 15th day of each following month. The canceled check, accompanied by the monthly cigarette tax reporting form, shall be proof of payment.
[R.O. 1996 § 625.070; CC 1968 § 6-17; Ord. No. 280 § 7, 4-20-1965]
An occupation license and/or cigarette vending machine license provided for herein, shall be procured from the Director of Finance upon an application form prescribed, prepared and furnished by said Department, and shall set forth such information as required by this Section. The application shall be made under oath and be accompanied by the registration and/or machine license fee provided for herein. Upon approval of the application, the Director of Finance shall grant and issue to the applicant an occupation license or cigarette vending machine license as hereinbefore provided. Occupation licenses and cigarette vending machine licenses shall not be assignable and shall be valid only for the person in whose name issued, for the machine identified therein, and for the transaction of business at the place designated therein; they shall at all times be conspicuously displayed at the premises for which issued or on the machine for which issued.
[R.O. 1996 § 625.080; CC 1968 § 6-18; Ord. No. 280 § 7, 4-20-1965]
A. 
The application for an occupation license and/or cigarette vending machine license shall state the name and address of the applicant, or if the applicant is a firm, partnership or association, all of the names and addresses of each member of the firm, partnership or association, or if the applicant is a corporation, the names and addresses of all of the officers, the Board of Directors, and all of the stockholders of the corporation; in the case of a corporation with more than ten (10) stockholders, a statement of the names and addresses of the officers and Directors who are residents of the State of Missouri and the name and address of the corporation's manager of its place of business in Blue Springs, Missouri, shall be sufficient. The application shall generally describe the premises for which the license applied for shall cover, such description to include the street address, if any, of the premises. Such application shall also state the name and address of the person in charge of the premises where the cigarettes are to be sold or in charge of the vending machines, and whether or not said person has ever been convicted of an offense under the laws of this or any other state relating to the sale or dispensing of cigarettes, or any felony.
B. 
It shall clearly be stated upon the application whether either occupation or vending machine license is applied for, or whether both of the licenses are desired, and the registration fee and/or license fee shall be paid to the Director at the time of filing the application.
C. 
Any false statement of a material matter made in the application shall be deemed cause for suspension or revocation of any license issued pursuant to such application.
[R.O. 1996 § 625.090; CC 1968 § 6-19; Ord. No. 280 § 7, 4-20-1965]
No license shall be issued unless the applicant is in present possession of the premises described in their application, at the time the application is presented to the Director. And no license shall be issued when the applicant or the person in charge of the premises where the cigarettes are sold or in charge of the vending machines has been convicted of any offense relating to the sale or dispensing of cigarettes or any felony.
[R.O. 1996 § 625.100; CC 1968 § 6-20; Ord. No. 280 § 7, 4-20-1965; Ord. No. 3025 § 5, 11-3-1997]
A. 
Duration. All licenses shall expire on the last day of February in each and every year unless sooner surrendered, or unless upon notice and hearing the license is suspended or revoked for cause by the City Council.
B. 
Pro Rated License Fees. There shall be no pro rata charges made for the issuance of any license as prescribed hereunder, and the full fee must be paid, no matter what month of the year any license application is made.
[R.O. 1996 § 625.110; CC 1968 § 6-21; Ord. No. 280 § 8, 4-20-1965]
A. 
Authority Of City To Suspend — Notice Required. The Director of Community Development may, upon hearing, suspend or revoke any license issued under the provisions of this Chapter whenever a person or merchant licensed hereunder has not, at all times, complied with all provisions of this Chapter, or facts or information become known which would have prevented original issuance of said license, first having given such licensee written notice in accordance with the procedure set forth in Chapter 140 of the intention to suspend or revoke their license prior to the order of suspension or revocation issuing, which said notice shall contain the ground or grounds for suspension or revocation set out therein and inform the person to whom the notice is directed of the right to seek an appeal of any suspension or revocation under the provisions of Chapter 140 of this Code and their right to be represented by counsel.
[Ord. No. 4589 § 11, 3-21-2016]
B. 
Service Of Notice. The notice of revocation or suspension hearing shall be served by a Police Officer or duly appointed agent of the City Administrator and may be served upon the licensee by leaving a copy thereof with the licensee or any person or employee who appears to be in charge of the place of business of said licensee.
[Ord. No. 4589 § 11, 3-21-2016]
C. 
Refund Of License Fee. Upon the suspension or revocation of any license, no license fee paid, or any part thereof, shall be refunded to the licensee.
D. 
Compliance With State Laws Required. Every licensee shall, in addition to the requirements of this Chapter, comply in every respect with the cigarette laws of the State of Missouri, and any violation thereof shall be valid reason for the suspension or revocation of any license issued under this Chapter.
[R.O. 1996 § 625.120; CC 1968 § 6-22; Ord. No. 280 § 4, 4-20-1965; Ord. No. 419 § 2, 3-3-1969; Ord. No. 2949 § 4, 12-16-1996]
A. 
Each dealer in the City and those wholesalers and retailers as defined in Section 625.010, shall procure and retain invoices showing the amount and value of the shipment of cigarettes received by them, the date thereof, and the name of the shipper, and shall retain this invoice for a period of two (2) years subject to the use and inspection of the City Council or their duly authorized representatives.
B. 
All dealers, wholesalers and retailers as defined in Section 625.010 within the City shall maintain and keep for a period of two (2) years such other records of cigarettes received, sold or delivered within the City as may be required by the City Council.
C. 
The City Council or its duly authorized representatives, are authorized to examine the books, papers, invoices and other records, stock of cigarettes in and upon any premises where they are placed, stored or sold, and equipment of any such dealer, wholesaler, or retailer pertaining to the sale and delivery of cigarettes taxable under this Chapter.
D. 
To verify the accuracy of the occupation tax imposed and assessed by this Chapter, each person, as defined in Section 625.010, is directed and required to give to the City Council or its duly authorized representatives, the means, facilities and opportunity for such examinations as are herein provided for and required.
E. 
In addition to the powers herein granted to the City Council, the Council is authorized and empowered to prescribe, adopt, promulgate and enforce rules and regulations relating to the delegation of these powers to a deputy or other employee of the City and as to any other matter or thing pertaining to the administration and enforcement of the provisions of this Chapter.
F. 
Cigarette tax reporting information received from the State of Missouri shall be held in confidence and used solely for verifying cigarette tax payments.
[R.O. 1996 § 625.130; CC 1968 § 6-23; Ord. No. 280 § 9, 4-20-1965; Ord. No. 2949 § 5, 12-16-1996]
The City Council is authorized to adopt, prescribe and promulgate rules and regulations including a monthly cigarette tax reporting form with regard to the presentation of claim for refunds and credits as it may deem advisable.
[R.O. 1996 § 625.180; CC 1968 § 6-28; Ord. No. 280 § 11, 4-20-1965; Ord. No. 2949 § 7, 12-16-1996]
A. 
Seizure Authorized. Whenever the City Council or any of their duly authorized representatives shall discover any cigarettes subject to tax, as provided by this Chapter, and upon which said occupation tax has not been paid, the City Council or their representative or representatives are hereby authorized and empowered forthwith to seize and take possession of said cigarettes, together with any vending machine or other mechanical device for selling and dispensing cigarettes or receptacle in which they are held for sale, and the same shall thereupon be deemed to be forfeited to the City.
B. 
Sale Of Seized Cigarettes — Disposition Of Proceeds. The City Council or their duly authorized representatives may, within a reasonable time thereafter, after public notice at least five (5) days before the day of sale, sell such forfeited cigarettes at a place designated by them, and all proceeds shall be forfeited to the City. The seizure and sale shall not be deemed to relieve any person or merchant from any punishment by fine or other penalty provided herein for violation of any provisions of this Chapter.