§ 54:40A-3. Licenses required

After the effective date of this act, 1 no person shall engage in, or conduct the business of manufacturing, purchasing, selling, consigning or distributing cigarettes in this State, nor shall any person acquire unstamped cigarettes for consumption, storage or use in this State without having first obtained the appropriate license for that purpose as prescribed by this act.

§ 54:40A-4. License; issuance, fees

• a. All licenses shall be issued by the director, who shall make rules and regulations respecting applications therefor and issuance thereof.
  b. The following individuals related to distributors, wholesale dealers, retail dealers operating more than nine cigarette vending machines, and retail dealers who sell cigarettes at retail at more than nine premises shall submit with applications for a license, fingerprints, which shall be processed through the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Jersey State Police, and such other information as the director may require:
  (1) Individuals having any interest whatsoever in a proprietorship or company.
  (2) Partners of a partnership, regardless of percentage.
  (3) Joint venturers in a joint venture.
  (4) Officers, directors, and all stockholders holding directly or indirectly a beneficial interest in more than 5% of the outstanding shares of a corporation.
  (5) Employees receiving in excess of $30,000.00 per annum compensation whether as salary, commission, bonus or otherwise and persons who, in the judgment of the director are employed in a supervisory capacity or have the power to make or substantially affect discretionary business judgments of the applicant entity with regard to the cigarette business.
  (6) Other persons who the director establishes have the ability to control the applicant entity through any means including but not limited to, contracts, loans, mortgages or pledges of securities where such control is inimical to the policies of this act because such person is a career offender or a member of a career offender cartel as defined in paragraph (2) of subsection e. of this section.  Individuals licensed pursuant to the “Casino Control Act,” P.L.1977, c. 110 ( C.5:12-1 et seq. ) shall only be required to produce evidence of said licensure in satisfaction of the foregoing.
  The provisions in this subsection as to wholesale dealers, retail dealers operating more than nine cigarette vending machines, and retail dealers who sell cigarettes at retail at more than nine premises do not apply to retail grocery stores and supermarkets primarily engaged in the self-service sale of foods and household supplies for off-premises consumption, to drug stores and pharmacies engaged in the retail sale of prescription drugs and patent medicines and which may carry a number of lines of related merchandise, or to restaurants, hotels and motels operated by national corporations with such premises in six or more states and primarily engaged in the sale of foods for retail consumption or in the rental of rooms for lodging.
  c. (1) The director shall not issue any license under this act where he has reasonable cause to believe that anyone required to submit information under this act has willfully withheld information requested of him for the purpose of determining the eligibility of the applicant to receive a license or where the director has reasonable cause to believe that information submitted in the application is false and misleading and is not made in good faith.
  (2) The director shall not issue a license under this act to a person that is a manufacturer or importer of cigarettes, tobacco products or processed tobacco if the manufacturer or importer does not possess a valid federal permit issued pursuant to section 5713 of the federal Internal Revenue Code of 1986 , 26 U.S.C. s.5713 , that is not suspended or revoked.
  d. The director shall not issue any license under this act where he has reasonable cause to believe that anyone required to be licensed or anyone required to submit information under this act, has been convicted of any offense in any jurisdiction which would be at the time of conviction a crime involving moral turpitude.
  It is further provided that any applicant or person required to submit information who has a charge pending pursuant to any of the foregoing shall disclose that fact to the director.  The director may then withhold action on new applications or, in the case of an application for the renewal of a license, issue a temporary license until there has been a disposition of the charge.  The director shall have the discretion to waive the prohibition against licensure herein provided upon the presentation of proof that a period of not less than five years has elapsed since the last conviction or the expiration of any period of incarceration imposed with respect thereto.
  e. The director shall not issue any license where the applicant or anyone required to submit information has been identified as a career offender or a member of a career offender cartel in such a manner as to create a reasonable belief that the association is of such a nature as to be inimical to the policies of this act or to the taxation, distribution, and sale of cigarettes within the State.  The director may request the Attorney General for advice respecting whether a person is a “career offender” within the meaning of this subsection, or is a “contumacious defiant” within the meaning of subsection f. of this section.
  As used in this subsection:
  (1) “career offender” means any person whose behavior is pursued in an occupational manner or context for the purpose of economic gain, utilizing such methods as are deemed criminal violations of the public policy of this State;  and (2) “career offender cartel” means any group of persons who operate together as career offenders.
  f. The director shall not issue any license where the applicant or anyone required to submit information has been found to be contumaciously defiant before any legislative investigative body or other official investigative body of this State or of the United States when such body is engaged in the investigation of organized crime, official corruption or the cigarette industry itself.
  g. Each such license shall lapse on March 31 of the period for which it is issued, and each such license shall be continued annually upon the conditions that the licensee shall have paid the required fee and complied with all the provisions of this act and the rules and regulations of the director made pursuant thereto.
  h. For each license issued to a distributor there shall be paid to the director a fee of $350.00.  If a distributor sells or intends to sell cigarettes at two or more places of business, whether established or temporary, a separate license shall be required for each place of business.  Each license, or certificate, thereof, and such other evidence of license shall be exhibited in the place of business for which it is issued and in such manner as may be prescribed by the director.  The director shall require each licensed distributor to file with him a bond in an amount not less than the average monthly value of the cigarette stamps used by the licensed distributor to guarantee the proper performance of his duties and the discharge of his liabilities under this act.  The bond shall be executed by such licensed distributor as principal, and by a corporation approved by the director and duly authorized to engage in business as a surety company in the State of New Jersey, as surety.  The bond shall run concurrently with the distributor's license.
  For each license issued to a manufacturer, and for each continuance thereof, there shall be paid to the director a fee of $10.00.
  For each license issued to a manufacturer's representative, and for each continuance thereof, there shall be paid to the director a fee of $5.00.
  For each license issued to a wholesale dealer there shall be paid to the director a fee of $250.00.  If a wholesale dealer sells or intends to sell cigarettes at 10 or more places of business, whether established or temporary, a separate license shall be required for each place of business.  Each license, or certificate thereof, and such other evidence of license shall be exhibited in the place of business for which it is issued and in such manner as may be prescribed by the director.
  For each license issued to a retail dealer and for each continuance thereof, excepting a retail dealer operating a cigarette vending machine, there shall be paid to the director a fee of $40 in 1996 and $50 in 1997 and each year thereafter.  For each license issued to a retail dealer operating a vending machine for the sale of cigarettes and for each continuance thereof, there shall be paid to the director a fee of $40 in 1996 and $50 in 1997 and each year thereafter.  Of the license fee of $40 and $50, respectively, $30 shall be credited in 1996 and $40 shall be credited in 1997 and each year thereafter to the special projects and development fund in the Department of Health and Senior Services established pursuant to section 7 of P.L.1966, c. 36 ( C.26:2F-7 ) for the purposes specified therein, and $5 shall be credited each year, beginning with 1996, to the division for administrative costs associated with the requirements established pursuant to subsection i. of this section and section 2 of P.L.1995, c. 320 ( C.26:3A2-20.1 ).  The director shall determine and certify to the State Treasurer on a monthly basis the amount of revenues collected by the director which are to be credited to the special projects and development fund in the Department of Health .
  If a retail dealer sells or intends to sell cigarettes at two or more places of business, whether established or temporary, or whether in the same building or not, a separate license shall be required for each place of business.  Each vending machine for the sale of cigarettes shall be separately licensed and be deemed a separate place of business.  Each license, or certificate thereof, and such other evidence of license shall be exhibited in the place of business for which it is issued and in such manner as may be prescribed by the director.
  Any person licensed only as a distributor or as a manufacturer or as a manufacturer's representative or as a wholesale dealer or as a retail dealer shall not operate in any other capacity except under that for which he is licensed herein, unless the appropriate license or licenses therefor are first secured.
  For each license issued to a consumer and for each continuance thereof there shall be paid to the director a fee of $1.00.  Each license, or certificate thereof, or such other evidence of license as may be prescribed by the director, shall be so kept by the consumer as to be readily available for inspection.
  No license shall be issued to any person except upon the payment of the full fee therefor, any statute or exemption to the contrary notwithstanding.  No license shall be assignable or transferable, except as hereinafter provided, but in the case of death, bankruptcy, receivership, or incompetency of the licensee, or if for any other reason whatsoever the business of the licensee shall devolve upon another by operation of law, the director may, in his discretion, extend said license for a limited time to the executor, administrator, trustee, receiver, or person upon whom the same has devolved.  A purchaser or assignee of a licensed wholesaler or licensed distributor, or any other person upon whom the business of a licensed wholesaler or licensed distributor shall devolve by operation of law, shall upon application to the director, be entitled to an assignment or transfer of the wholesale or distributor license for the balance of the existing license period upon payment of a transfer fee of $5.00 and subject to his qualification to be a licensed wholesaler or licensed distributor under the provisions of this act.  The license issued for each vending machine for the sale of cigarettes may be transferred from machine to machine in the same ownership.  No refund of the license fee shall be paid to any person upon the surrender or revocation of any license except a license fee paid or collected in error.  But, upon payment of a $1.00 fee, there may be obtained (1) a duplicate license, or certificate thereof, in the event the original is lost, destroyed or defaced, and (2) an amended license, or certificate thereof, upon a change in the location of the place of business of any distributor or dealer.
  i. The director shall require an applicant for a cigarette retail dealer license, including a license to operate a vending machine for the sale of cigarettes, to include on the application the address of the place of business where the cigarettes will be sold or the address where the vending machine will be located, as the case may be.
  If the place of business or the vending machine is moved to a different address than that provided on the license application, the licensee shall notify the director within 30 days of the change of address

§ 54:40A-4.1. Sign required; violations, penalties.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, a person to whom a license is issued pursuant to P.L.1948, c. 65 ( C.54:40A-1 et seq. ) shall, as a condition of the license, conspicuously post a legible sign at the point of display of the tobacco products and at the point of sale.  The sign, which also shall be posted conspicuously on any licensed cigarette vending machine, shall be at least six inches by three inches in bold letters at least one-quarter inch high and shall read as follows:
“A person who sells or offers to sell a tobacco product to a person under 21 years of age shall pay a penalty of up to $1,000 and may be subject to a license suspension or revocation.
Proof of age may be required for purchase.”

§ 54:40A-4.2. Sale of single, less than packs of 20; violations, fine

• a. A person shall not sell, offer for sale, give away or deliver single cigarettes, as defined in section 102 of P.L.1948, c. 65 ( C.54:40A-2 ) or cigarettes in packs of less than 20 cigarettes from a vending machine or in a retail establishment.
  b. A person who owns a vending machine that dispenses, sells, offers for sale, gives away or delivers single cigarettes or cigarettes in packs of less than 20 cigarettes shall be fined not less than $100 or more than $500 for each day that the vending machine is determined to be in violation of subsection a. of this section.
  c. A person, either acting directly or indirectly through an agent, who, at retail, sells or offers for sale, gives away, delivers or otherwise furnishes to a person a single cigarette or cigarettes in packs of less than 20 cigarettes shall be fined $250 for a first offense and $500 for a second or subsequent offense

§ 54:40A-4.3. Enforcement of single, less than packs of 20 sale violations

A penalty imposed under this act shall be collected pursuant to the “Penalty Enforcement Law of 1999,” P.L.1999, c. 274 ( C.2A:58-10 et seq. ), in a summary proceeding before the municipal court having jurisdiction. An official authorized by statute or ordinance to enforce the State or local health codes or a law enforcement officer having enforcement authority in that municipality may issue a summons for a violation of the provisions of this act, and may serve and execute all process with respect to the enforcement of this section consistent with the Rules of Court. A penalty recovered under the provisions of this subsection shall be recovered by and in the name of the State by the local health agency. The penalty shall be paid into the treasury of the municipality in which the violation occurred for the general uses of the municipality.

§ 54:40A-5. Revocation of license

The director may, upon notice and after hearing, suspend or revoke the license or all licenses issued to any person under this act who violates any of the provisions of this act, or who, after being issued a license becomes disqualified for licensure pursuant to this act or of any rule or regulation of the director, made pursuant thereto or if the licensee has ceased to act in the capacity for which the license was issued or for other good cause. No person whose license has been suspended or revoked shall sell cigarettes or permit cigarettes to be sold during the period of such suspension or revocation on the premises occupied by him or upon other premises controlled by him or others or in any other manner or form whatever. Nor shall any disciplinary proceeding or action be barred or abated by the expiration, transfer, surrender, continuance, renewal or extension of any license issued under the provisions of this act.

§ 54:40A-6. License required in addition to other license

Any license required by this act shall be in addition to any and all other licenses which may be required by law.

§ 54:40A-7. Reports required; penalty required for not filing reports

• Every licensed distributor shall file with the director on or before the twentieth day of each month, a report in such form as the director shall prescribe, which report shall disclose the number of cigarettes on hand by brand family, as defined pursuant to section 2 of P.L.2003, c. 25 ( C.52:4D-5 ), on the first and last days of the calendar month immediately preceding the month in which such report is required;  together with the quantity, by brand family, of cigarettes purchased or sold during the report period, and such information concerning the amount of stamps purchased, used, and on hand during the report period;  together with any other information for the report period that the director shall prescribe.
  Every licensed manufacturer shall file with the director on or before the twentieth day of each month, a report in such form as the director shall prescribe, which report shall disclose the number of cigarettes sold, subject to the cigarette tax, for the calendar month immediately preceding the month in which such report is required;  together with any other information for the report period that the director shall prescribe.
  Every licensed manufacturer's representative, wholesale and retail dealer, upon notice from the director, shall file with the director a report in such form, and on such dates, as the director shall prescribe.
  Every licensed consumer who has acquired cigarettes for use, storage or consumption subject to the tax shall, on or before the twentieth day of the month following receipt of such cigarettes, complete and file with the director, in such form as the director shall prescribe, a report showing the amount of cigarettes so received.  Said report shall be accompanied by a remittance for the full amount of the tax due.
  Any person, other than a licensed distributor, who transports unstamped cigarettes upon the public highways, roads, or streets of this State or who stores unstamped cigarettes in this State upon notice from the director, shall file with the director a report in such form, and on such dates, as the director shall prescribe.
  Any person who shall fail to file any report on the day when it shall be due, shall forfeit as a penalty, an amount as provided in the State Uniform Tax Procedure Law, subtitle 9 of Title 54 of the Revised Statutes.  1  The director, if satisfied that the failure to comply with any provision of this section was excusable, may remit the whole or any part of said penalty.

§ 54:40A-7.1. Monthly report produced by director

The director shall produce a monthly report listing the quantity of cigarettes sold in this State by distributors, aggregated by manufacturer and by brand family as defined pursuant to section 2 of P.L.2003, c.25 (C.52:4D-5), during the month immediately preceding the monthly report, which shall be published on the website of the Division of Taxation in the Department of the Treasury on or before the 15th day of each month.