Bill Text: VA HB1185 | 2020 | Regular Session | Prefiled
Bill Title: Nicotine vapor products; sale, penalties.
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-02-05 - Continued to 2021 in Finance by voice vote [HB1185 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2020-HB1185-Prefiled.html
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That §18.2-371.2 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:
§18.2-371.2. Prohibiting purchase or possession of tobacco products, nicotine vapor products, and alternative nicotine products by a person under 21 years of age or sale of tobacco products, nicotine vapor products, and alternative nicotine products to persons under 21 years of age; penalties.
A. No person shall sell to, distribute to, purchase for, or knowingly permit the purchase by any person less than 21 years of age, knowing or having reason to believe that such person is less than 21 years of age, any tobacco product, nicotine vapor product, or alternative nicotine product.
Tobacco products, nicotine vapor products, and alternative nicotine products may be sold from a vending machine only if the machine is (i) posted with a notice, in a conspicuous manner and place, indicating that the purchase or possession of tobacco products by persons under 21 years of age is unlawful and (ii) located in a place that is not open to the general public and is not generally accessible to persons under 21 years of age. An establishment that prohibits the presence of persons under 21 years of age unless accompanied by a person 21 years of age or older is not open to the general public.
B. No person less than 21 years of age shall attempt to
purchase, purchase,
or possess any tobacco product, nicotine vapor product, or alternative nicotine
product. The provisions of this subsection shall not be applicable to the
possession of tobacco products, nicotine vapor products, or alternative
nicotine products by a person less than 21 years of age making a delivery of
tobacco products, nicotine vapor products, or alternative nicotine products in
pursuance of his employment. This subsection shall not apply to purchase,
attempt to purchase, or possession by a law-enforcement officer or his agent
when the same is necessary in the performance of his duties.
C. No person shall sell a tobacco product, nicotine vapor
product, or alternative nicotine product to any individual who does not
demonstrate, by producing a driver's license or similar photo identification
issued by a government agency, that the individual is at least 21 years of age. Such identification is not required from an
individual whom the person has reason to believe is at least 21 years of age or
who the person knows is at least 21 years of age. Proof
that the person demanded, was shown, and reasonably relied upon a photo
identification stating that the individual was at least 21 years of age shall
be a defense to any action brought under this subsection. In
determining whether a person had reason to believe an individual is at least 21
years of age, the trier of fact may consider, but is not limited to, proof of
the general appearance, facial characteristics, behavior, and manner of the
individual.
This subsection shall not apply to mail order or Internet sales, provided that the person offering the tobacco product, nicotine vapor product, or alternative nicotine product for sale through mail order or the Internet (i) prior to the sale of the tobacco product, nicotine vapor product, or alternative nicotine product verifies that the purchaser is at least 21 years of age through a commercially available database that is regularly used by businesses or governmental entities for the purpose of age and identity verification and (ii) uses a method of mailing, shipping, or delivery that requires the signature of a person at least 21 years of age before the tobacco product, nicotine vapor product, or alternative nicotine product will be released to the purchaser.
D. The sale of (i) flavored nicotine vapor products, including mint and menthol but not tobacco flavors, and (ii) high-nicotine vapor products above 30 mg strength shall be limited to retail establishments that sell such products to persons 21 years of age or older and have proven age restriction processes. Such establishments shall prove that valid identification checks are in place at the door upon entry and again before any transaction is processed. Required age verification documentation shall be maintained by such retail establishments for every transaction:
E. All direct-to-consumer online sales that are intended to deliver nicotine vapor products are prohibited.
F. The sale of nicotine vapor products with additives other than traditional e-liquid ingredients (e.g., propylene glycol, vegetable glycerin, flavoring) that alter the performance characteristics of nicotine (e.g., benzoic acid) is prohibited.
G. The provisions of subsections B and C shall not apply to the sale, giving, or furnishing of any tobacco product, nicotine vapor product, or alternative nicotine product to any active duty military personnel who are 18 years of age or older. An identification card issued by the Armed Forces of the United States shall be accepted as proof of age for this purpose.
E. H. A violation of subsection A or,
C, D, E, or F by an individual
or by a separate retail establishment that involves a nicotine vapor product,
alternative nicotine product, or tobacco product other than a bidi is
punishable by a civil penalty not to exceed $100 for a first violation, a civil
penalty not to exceed $200 for a second violation, and a civil penalty not to
exceed $500 for a third or subsequent violation.
A violation of subsection A or, C, D,
E, or F by an individual or by a separate retail
establishment that involves the sale, distribution, or purchase of a bidi is
punishable by a civil penalty in the amount of $500 for a first violation, a
civil penalty in the amount of $1,000 for a second violation, and a civil
penalty in the amount of $2,500 for a third or subsequent violation. Where a
defendant retail establishment offers proof that it has trained its employees
concerning the requirements of this section, the court shall suspend all of the
penalties imposed hereunder. However, where the court finds that a retail
establishment has failed to so train its employees, the court may impose a
civil penalty not to exceed $1,000 in lieu of any penalties imposed hereunder
for a violation of subsection A or, C, D,
E, or F involving a nicotine vapor product, alternative
nicotine product, or tobacco product other than a bidi.
A violation of subsection B is punishable by a civil penalty not to exceed $100 for a first violation and a civil penalty not to exceed $250 for a second or subsequent violation. A court may, as an alternative to the civil penalty, and upon motion of the defendant, prescribe the performance of up to 20 hours of community service for a first violation of subsection B and up to 40 hours of community service for a second or subsequent violation. If the defendant fails or refuses to complete the community service as prescribed, the court may impose the civil penalty. Upon a violation of subsection B, the judge may enter an order pursuant to subdivision A 9 of §16.1-278.8.
Any attorney for the Commonwealth of the county or city in
which an alleged violation occurred may bring an action to recover the civil
penalty, which shall be paid into the state treasury. Any law-enforcement
officer may issue a summons for a violation of subsection A, B, or C, D, E, or F.
F.1. I. 1. Cigarettes
shall be sold only in sealed packages provided by the manufacturer, with the required
health warning. The proprietor of every retail establishment that offers for
sale any tobacco product, nicotine vapor product, or alternative nicotine
product shall post in a conspicuous manner and place a sign or signs indicating
that the sale of tobacco products, nicotine vapor products, or alternative
nicotine products to any person under 21 years of age is prohibited by law. Any
attorney for the county, city, or town in which an alleged violation of this
subsection occurred may enforce this subsection by civil action to recover a
civil penalty not to exceed $50. The civil penalty shall be paid into the local
treasury. No filing fee or other fee or cost shall be charged to the county,
city, or town which instituted the action.
2. For the purpose of compliance with regulations of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration published at 61 Federal Register 1492, the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services may promulgate regulations which allow the Department to undertake the activities necessary to comply with such regulations.
3. Any attorney for the county, city, or town in which an alleged violation of this subsection occurred may enforce this subsection by civil action to recover a civil penalty not to exceed $100. The civil penalty shall be paid into the local treasury. No filing fee or other fee or cost shall be charged to the county, city, or town which instituted the action.
G. J. Nothing
in this section shall be construed to create a private cause of action.
H. K. Agents
of the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority designated pursuant to §
4.1-105 may issue a summons for any violation of this section.
I. L. As
used in this section:
"Alternative nicotine product" means any noncombustible product containing nicotine that is intended for human consumption, whether chewed, absorbed, dissolved, or ingested by any other means. "Alternative nicotine product" does not include any nicotine vapor product, tobacco product, or product regulated as a drug or device by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) under Chapter V (21 U.S.C. §351 et seq.) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.
"Bidi" means a product containing tobacco that is wrapped in temburni leaf (diospyros melanoxylon) or tendu leaf (diospyros exculpra), or any other product that is offered to, or purchased by, consumers as a bidi or beedie.
"Nicotine vapor product" means any noncombustible product containing nicotine that employs a heating element, power source, electronic circuit, or other electronic, chemical, or mechanical means, regardless of shape or size, that can be used to produce vapor from nicotine in a solution or other form. "Nicotine vapor product" includes any electronic cigarette, electronic cigar, electronic cigarillo, electronic pipe, or similar product or device and any cartridge or other container of nicotine in a solution or other form that is intended to be used with or in an electronic cigarette, electronic cigar, electronic cigarillo, electronic pipe, or similar product or device. "Nicotine vapor product" does not include any product regulated by the FDA under Chapter V (21 U.S.C. §351 et seq.) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.
"Tobacco product" means any product made of tobacco and includes cigarettes, cigars, smokeless tobacco, pipe tobacco, bidis, and wrappings. "Tobacco product" does not include any nicotine vapor product, alternative nicotine product, or product that is regulated by the FDA under Chapter V (21 U.S.C. §351 et seq.) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.
"Wrappings" includes papers made or sold for covering or rolling tobacco or other materials for smoking in a manner similar to a cigarette or cigar.
