40 percent of all N.J. cigarettes smuggled into state illegally (sales, purchase)

[GiantRutgersfan]

40 percent of all N.J. cigarettes smuggled into state illegally | NJ.com

About 40 percent of all cigarettes smoked in New Jersey are smuggled into the state illegally — the highest percentage of any state in the nation — resulting in a loss of more than $500 million in uncollected tax revenue each year, according to a report obtained by The Star-Ledger.


The reason is hardly surprising: New Jersey levels a $2.70 tax on each pack of cigarettes sold, one of the highest rates in the nation.

Tax is too high so people will just stock up elsewhere, purchase over the internet, or on the "black market"

Even a lot of retailers sell them from out of state.

[joe moving]

i remember just a few years ago, i'd bring cartons in for friends. $20!i was like the cigarette santa claus

[icibiu]

I'm not surprised! Why wouldn't people try to save a few bucks if they could?

[Retriever]

Originally Posted by icibiu

I'm not surprised! Why wouldn't people try to save a few bucks if they could?

...for something that will surely kill them.

Yes, I guess that it is a good idea to pay less for an addiction that inevitably leads to incredible damage to one's heart, lungs, and circulatory system.




Why anyone continues to smoke in this day and age is something that is beyond my comprehension.
My parents, and my brother, all quit--"cold turkey"--about 30 years ago, and they reported only mild discomfort for the first 24 hours. After the first 24 hours, it was not a very bad experience. And, they never slipped back into tobacco addiction.

As long as someone has determination to rid himself/herself of this addiction, it can be done, and it is not as difficult as is sometimes claimed.

It all comes down to...resolve...personal conviction...and the ability to defer gratification.
If nothing else, visualizing yourself hooked up to a respirator and being unable to speak--while your family looks on helplessly as you slip into unconsciousness--should give you some motivation to give up this expensive and pointless addiction.

[MaverickDD]

Originally Posted by GiantRutgersfan

40 percent of all N.J. cigarettes smuggled into state illegally | NJ.com

It may be, but it sounds a bit over-the-top. I don't believe the reality is that extreme. I suspect the statistics were cooked to appear as extreme as possible.

[brokenaperture]

So how do I cut out the retail middleman and get these contraband smokes firsthand without having to pay NJ's tax on top of it? I need to make a few calls...

[southbound_295]

Originally Posted by GiantRutgersfan

40 percent of all N.J. cigarettes smuggled into state illegally | NJ.com

Tax is too high so people will just stock up elsewhere, purchase over the internet, or on the "black market"

Even a lot of retailers sell them from out of state.

The 2nd time that McGreevey hiked the cigarette tax to balance the budget, I discovered that the cost in Delaware isn't too much higher than NC. Plus, since it's right next door so it's not a big deal to go down & get 4 cartons (the legal limit) so they might be off on illegality, but they are probably dead on with cigarettes brought into the state.

[CaptainNJ]

Originally Posted by Retriever

...for something that will surely kill them.

Yes, I guess that it is a good idea to pay less for an addiction that inevitably leads to incredible damage to one's heart, lungs, and circulatory system.

thats not really relevant. these people made the horrible decision to smoke, so may as well get it for as low a price as possible. tax increases have a tendency to not bring in as much revenue as the government anticipated. oh but they spent based on the projection, not actual revenue so that new revenue just increased the budget deficit.

[southbound_295]

Originally Posted by CaptainNJ

thats not really relevant. these people made the horrible decision to smoke, so may as well get it for as low a price as possible. tax increases have a tendency to not bring in as much revenue as the government anticipated. oh but they spent based on the projection, not actual revenue so that new revenue just increased the budget deficit.

Yup. Not only are cigarettes much cheaper in Delaware, but there's no sales tax, period. That's what they get for ignoring South Jersey. It's fast & easy to get to Delaware from most of South Jersey.

[ocnjgirl]

I would like to know what they consider "smuggled into the state illegally". My mom is in the hospital in NE, while in Philly I bought 2 packs of cigs...did I "smuggle them into NJ" when I crossed the bridge?