Case ID: misc_27/html/0327-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "\n      Gaynor, J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Matter of the Application of Henry H. Lyman, State Commissioner of Excise, to Revoke the Liquor Tax Certificate of Raffaele Salatino.
    (Supreme Court, Kings Special Term,
    May, 1899.)
    Liquor Tax Law (Laws of 1896, chap. 112, §§ 31; 34, as amended by Laws of 1897, chap. 312)—One licensed to sell liquors, not to be drunk on the premises, does not forfeit his certificate by selling liquors to be drunk thereon — Punishment.
    Under the Liquor Tax Law (Laws of 1896, chap. 112, as amended by Laws of 1897, chap. 312), if a person, licensed only to sell liquors not to be drunk on the premises, sells liquors tc be drunk thereon, he does not thereby forfeit his certificate, as his offense is only against that part of section 31 of said act which prohibits sales without an appropriate license, and he is punishable merely as for a misdemeanor in the manner prescribed in subdivision 1 of section 34.
    Petition to revoke a liquor tax certificate.
    W. A. Cloutier, for petitioner. f
    L. ‘J. Somerville, opposed.
   Gaynor, J.

The respondent holds a liquor tax certificate for the sale-of liquors not to be drunk on the premises' (The Liquor Tax Law, sec.. 11 sub. 2), but he sold liquor to be drunk on the premises, for which traffic he holds no certificate (sec. 11 sub. 1); and this is an application for an order revoking his certificate on that ground. The application is- based on the provision allowing such revocation “ on account of the Violation of any provisions of this law, conviction of which would cause a forfeiture of ■ such certificate ” (sec. 28 sub. 2). It is provided that one “ who shall violate the provisions of this act by trafficking in liquor contrary to the provisions of sections 11, 22, 23, 24, 30 or. 31, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and conviction thereof shall.be punished by a' fine of not more than.$500” or by imprisonment for not more than one year, or by both, and shall forfeit the liquor tax certificate, and be deprived of all rights and privileges thereunder ” (sec. 34 sub. 2).' At the end of this subdivision it is provided that ■ it “ does not apply to violations of section 31 of this act, the punishment for which is provided in the first clause (subdivision) of this section.” The part of section 31 thus referred to prohibits sales unless the appropriate certificate therefor has been obtained under section 11; and the first subdivision of section 34 thus referred to prescribes the punishment for such sales. It is contended that "the respondent has not violated any of the said sections 11, 22,. 23, •24, 30> but has only violated section 31 by selling liquor to be drunk" on the premises without having a certificate therefor, but only a certificate to,sell to be taken away; and that therefore he is only subject to the said punishment provided in section 34, subdivision 1, for selling without a certificate contrary to the- said prohibition of section 81, and not to a forfeiture of his license. Upon reading sections 11, 22, 23, 24 and 30, it appears that the .respondent has not sold liquor “ contrary to the provisions ” of any of -them. ■ The prohibitions and requirements thereof are not' applicable to his, ease. The only provision he. has violated is that of section 31 which prohibits sales without -the appropriate license!'

The application is denied.