Police Organizations Oppose California's Prop 86 Tax Scheme
Jim Kouri, CPP
September 17, 2006
Throughout the nation, state governments have been raising taxes on cigarettes under the guise of wishing to help smokers quit a deadly habit. For example, government officials in New Jersey -- a group of politicians who never met a tax they didn't like -- has caused the price of cigarettes to reach $6.25 per pack. And smokers are being threatened with another tax increase which will approach a price of $7.00 per pack of smokes.
In California, a ballot initiative scheduled to appear during the November elections -- Proposition 86 -- proposes making California smokers the highest taxed in the country. While many politicians appear keen on the idea, law enforcement officers in large numbers oppose Prop 86.
The "No on Prop 86" campaign announced that more than 20 law enforcement groups oppose Proposition 86 due to concerns over the negative impacts the proposed 300 percent tax increase on cigarettes would have on crime and cigarette smuggling.
Cops in other states are also concerned about the punitive cigarette taxes levied by state governments that are creating new and lucrative criminal enterprises as well as criminalizing bargain hunting by smokers.
"If Prop. 86 passes, cigarette smuggling will become an even more attractive profit center for criminals," said Association for Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs (ALADS) president, Steve Remige.
"Prop. 86 does virtually nothing to address the added demands this kind of activity would put on our deputy sheriffs who are already overworked and understaffed by 1,000 officers."
In addition to ALADS, the National Association of Police Organizations (NAPO), the Peace Officers Research Association of California (PORAC), the Association of Orange County Deputy Sheriffs, the Deputy Sheriff's Association of San Diego County and the San Francisco Deputy Sheriffs Association publicly oppose Prop. 86.
"A law enforcement officer who stops a driver and finds a trunk full of cigarettes that were purchased out-of-state cannot confiscate the product, yet this person can drive to the neighborhood corner and sell them for a huge profit," Remige added.
If Prop. 86 passes, California would have the highest cigarette tax in the nation at $3.47 per pack. Our state would be ripe for cross-border sales, since Nevada's current cigarette tax is $0.80 per pack, while Arizona and Oregon impose a $1.18 tax on a pack of cigarettes. In addition, illegal trafficking between Mexico and California is already a serious problem. With cigarettes in Mexico costing less than half what they do in California today, a 300 percent tobacco tax hike would make smuggling even more profitable for criminals.
"When a truck load of cigarettes is worth $2 million on the black market, it will attract criminals' attention and add to what is already a dangerous situation. That's why we're opposed to Prop. 86," Remige said.
In California, a ballot initiative scheduled to appear during the November elections -- Proposition 86 -- proposes making California smokers the highest taxed in the country. While many politicians appear keen on the idea, law enforcement officers in large numbers oppose Prop 86.
The "No on Prop 86" campaign announced that more than 20 law enforcement groups oppose Proposition 86 due to concerns over the negative impacts the proposed 300 percent tax increase on cigarettes would have on crime and cigarette smuggling.
Cops in other states are also concerned about the punitive cigarette taxes levied by state governments that are creating new and lucrative criminal enterprises as well as criminalizing bargain hunting by smokers.
"If Prop. 86 passes, cigarette smuggling will become an even more attractive profit center for criminals," said Association for Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs (ALADS) president, Steve Remige.
"Prop. 86 does virtually nothing to address the added demands this kind of activity would put on our deputy sheriffs who are already overworked and understaffed by 1,000 officers."
In addition to ALADS, the National Association of Police Organizations (NAPO), the Peace Officers Research Association of California (PORAC), the Association of Orange County Deputy Sheriffs, the Deputy Sheriff's Association of San Diego County and the San Francisco Deputy Sheriffs Association publicly oppose Prop. 86.
"A law enforcement officer who stops a driver and finds a trunk full of cigarettes that were purchased out-of-state cannot confiscate the product, yet this person can drive to the neighborhood corner and sell them for a huge profit," Remige added.
If Prop. 86 passes, California would have the highest cigarette tax in the nation at $3.47 per pack. Our state would be ripe for cross-border sales, since Nevada's current cigarette tax is $0.80 per pack, while Arizona and Oregon impose a $1.18 tax on a pack of cigarettes. In addition, illegal trafficking between Mexico and California is already a serious problem. With cigarettes in Mexico costing less than half what they do in California today, a 300 percent tobacco tax hike would make smuggling even more profitable for criminals.
"When a truck load of cigarettes is worth $2 million on the black market, it will attract criminals' attention and add to what is already a dangerous situation. That's why we're opposed to Prop. 86," Remige said.
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