{"data":{"id":"us-me/22-m.r.s.-1554-b","jurisdiction":"us-me","citation":"22 M.R.S. §1554-B","heading":"Sale without valid license; multiple violations; penalties","body":"1.  (TEXT EFFECTIVE UNTIL 1/05/26) License required.  A person may not engage in retail tobacco sales or in free distribution of tobacco products in the ordinary course of trade in this State without a valid license issued under subchapter 1.\n1.  (TEXT EFFECTIVE 1/05/26) License required.  A person may not engage in retail tobacco sales in the ordinary course of trade in this State without a valid license issued under subchapter 1.\n2.  Penalties.  The following penalties apply to violations of this section.\nA.  A person who violates subsection 1 commits a Class E crime for which the court shall impose a sentencing alternative involving a fine of not less than $300 plus court costs and not more than $500 plus court costs.  The fine and costs may not be suspended.  The court also may impose a sentencing alternative involving a term of imprisonment of not more than 30 days.\nB.  A person who violates subsection 1 and, at the time of the violation, has one prior conviction for violating this section commits a Class E crime for which the court shall impose a sentencing alternative involving a fine of not less than $500 plus court costs and not more than $1,000 plus court costs.  The fine and costs may not be suspended.  The court also may impose a sentencing alternative involving a term of imprisonment of not more than 60 days.\nC.  A person who violates subsection 1 and, at the time of the violation, has 2 or more prior convictions for violating this section commits a Class E crime for which the court shall impose a sentencing alternative involving a fine of not less than $1,000 plus court costs and a term of imprisonment of 60 days.  The fine, court costs and term of imprisonment may not be suspended.  The court also may impose as a sentencing alternative an additional term of imprisonment of not more than 4 months.\n3.  Strict liability.  Violation of this section is a strict liability crime as defined in Title 17‑A, section 34, subsection 4‑A.\n4.  Prior convictions.  Title 17‑A, section 9‑A governs the use of prior convictions when determining a sentence.","path":["TITLE 22: HEALTH AND WELFARE","SUBTITLE 2: HEALTH","PART 3: PUBLIC HEALTH","CHAPTER 262-A: RETAIL TOBACCO SALES","SUBCHAPTER 2: PROHIBITED SALES, POSSESSION AND USE"],"source_url":"https://legislature.maine.gov/statutes/22/title22sec1554-B.html","current_through":"January 1, 2026","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-04T15:12:31Z","sha256":"f70efcd3f9e9092056aacdc6e7b30a262971f3fda0e12c8eef1df404b9a96533","source_id":"us-me","stale":false,"prev":"us-me/22-m.r.s.-1554-a","next":"us-me/22-m.r.s.-1555"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}