An Act To Reduce Youth Access to Tobacco Products
Maine Legislature, Session 128, LD 1170
Committee: Health and Human Services
Sponsors: DAVIS, GUERIN, DOW, JACKSON, LANGLEY, LIBBY, CHACE, GOLDEN, HYMANSON, WARD
Amends: 22 MRSA §1551, 22 MRSA §1552-A, 22 MRSA §1553-A, 22 MRSA §1555-B

Legislative Document
No. 1170
S.P. 391
In Senate, March 28, 2017
An Act To Reduce Youth Access to Tobacco Products
Reference to the Committee on Health and Human Services suggested and ordered printed.
HEATHER J.R. PRIEST
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator DAVIS of Piscataquis.
Cosponsored by Representative GUERIN of Glenburn and
Senators: DOW of Lincoln, JACKSON of Aroostook, LANGLEY of Hancock, LIBBY of 
Androscoggin, Representatives: CHACE of Durham, GOLDEN of Lewiston, HYMANSON of 
York, WARD of Dedham.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  22 MRSA §1551, sub-§1-D is enacted to read: 
1-D.  Electronic smoking device.  "Electronic smoking device" has the same 
meaning as in section 1541, subsection 1-A. 
Sec. 2.  22 MRSA §1551, sub-§2, as enacted by PL 1995, c. 470, §9 and affected 
by §19, is repealed. 
Sec. 3.  22 MRSA §1551, sub-§3, as enacted by PL 1995, c. 470, §9 and affected 
by §19, is repealed and the following enacted in its place: 
3.  Tobacco product.  "Tobacco product" means any product that is made from or 
derived from tobacco, or that contains nicotine, that is intended for human consumption 
or is likely to be consumed, whether smoked, heated, chewed, absorbed, dissolved, 
inhaled or ingested by any other means, including, but not limited to, a cigarette, a cigar, 
a hookah, pipe tobacco, chewing tobacco, snuff or snus.  "Tobacco product" also means 
an electronic smoking device and any component or accessory used in the consumption 
of a tobacco product, such as filters, rolling papers, pipes and liquids used in electronic 
smoking devices, whether or not they contain nicotine.  "Tobacco product" does not 
include drugs, devices or combination products authorized for sale by the United States 
Food and Drug Administration, as those terms are defined in the Federal Food, Drug, and 
Cosmetic Act. 
Sec. 4.  22 MRSA §1552-A, sub-§2, as amended by PL 1997, c. 305, §1, is 
further amended to read: 
2.  Display of prohibition against sales to persons under 21 years of age.  All 
licensees shall post notice of the prohibition on tobacco sales to juveniles persons under 
years of age pursuant to section 1555-B.  Notices must be publicly and conspicuously 
displayed in the licensee's place of business in letters at least 3/8 inches high.  Signs 
required by this section must be provided at cost by the department.  Any person who 
violates this subsection commits a civil violation for which a forfeiture of not less than 
$50 nor more than $200 may be adjudged for any one offense. 
Sec. 5.  22 MRSA §1553-A, sub-§1, as amended by PL 1997, c. 305, §2, is 
further amended to read: 
1.  Vending requirements.  When the sale of cigarettes or any other tobacco product 
is made from a vending machine the following is required. 
A.  Only cigarettes or any other tobacco products may be dispensed by that machine. 
B.  A sign must be affixed conspicuously to the front of the machine.  The sign must: 
(1)  Contain lettering that is at least 3/8 inches in height; and 
(2)  State the following:  "WARNING.  It is unlawful for to sell tobacco products 
to any person under the age of 18 to purchase cigarettes 21 in this State." 
C.  At all times during the hours the vending machine is accessible, it must be located 
within the unobstructed line of sight and under the direct supervision of an adult.  
That adult is responsible for preventing persons under 18 years of age from 
purchasing cigarettes or any other tobacco product from that vending machine. 
Vending machines may be located only in areas in which minors persons over 21 years of 
age are allowed only when accompanied by an adult. 
Sec. 6.  22 MRSA §1555-B, as amended by PL 2009, c. 398, §2 and affected by 
§6, is further amended to read: 
§1555-B.  Sales of tobacco products 
1.  Retail sales.  Tobacco products may be sold at retail only in a direct, face-to-face 
exchange in which the purchaser may be clearly identified.  For direct, face-to-face sales, 
employees who sell tobacco products must be at least 17 years of age.  An employee who 
is at least 17 years of age but less than 21 years of age may sell tobacco products only in 
the presence of an employee who is at least 21 years of age and is in a supervisory 
capacity. 
2.  Sales to persons under 21 years of age prohibited.  A person may not sell, 
furnish, give away or offer to sell, furnish or give away a tobacco product to any person 
under 18 21 years of age.  Tobacco products may not be sold at retail to any person under 
30 years of age unless the seller first verifies that person's age by means of reliable 
photographic identification containing the person's date of birth.  That a person appeared 
to be 30 years of age or older does not constitute a defense to a violation of this section. 
3.  Sales through vending machines.  Tobacco products may be sold through 
vending machines according to section 1553-A. 
4.  Wholesale sales.  Tobacco products may be distributed at wholesale without a 
face-to-face exchange only in the normal course of trade and under procedures approved 
by the Bureau of Revenue Services to ensure that tobacco products are not provided to 
any person under 18 21 years of age. 
5-A.  Purchase of tobacco products by persons under 21 years of age prohibited.  
Except as provided in subsection 5-B, a person under 18 21 years of age may not: 
A.  Purchase, possess or use cigarettes, cigarette papers or any attempt to purchase a 
tobacco product;. 
B.  Violate paragraph A after having  previously violated this subsection; or 
C.  Violate paragraph A after having previously violated this subsection 2 or more 
times. 
5-B.  Exception to possession by persons under 21 years of age.  A person under 
21 years of age may transport or permit to be transported in a motor vehicle cigarettes, 
cigarette papers or tobacco products in the original sealed package in which they were 
placed by the manufacturer if the transportation is in the scope of that person's 
employment. 
5-C.  Use of false identification by persons under 21 years of age prohibited.  A 
person under 18 21 years of age may not: 
A.  Offer false identification in an attempt to purchase a tobacco product or to 
purchase, possess or use cigarettes, cigarette papers or any other a tobacco product; 
B.  Violate paragraph A after having previously violated this subsection; or 
C.  Violate paragraph A after having previously violated this subsection 2 or more 
times. 
6.  Display of prohibition of sales to persons under 21 years of age.  A dealer or 
distributor of tobacco products shall post notice of this section prohibiting tobacco and 
cigarette paper product sales to persons under 18 21 years of age.  Notices must be 
publicly and conspicuously displayed in the dealer's or distributor's place of business in 
letters at least 3/8 inches in height.  Signs required by this section may be provided at cost 
by the department. 
7.  Enforcement.  Law enforcement officers shall enforce this section.  A citizen may 
register a complaint under this section with the law enforcement agency having 
jurisdiction.  The law enforcement agency may notify any establishment or individual 
subject to this section of a citizen complaint regarding that establishment's or individual's 
alleged violation of this section and shall keep a record of that notification. 
8.  Fines.  Violations of this section are subject to fines or other penalties according 
to this subsection. 
A.  A person who violates subsection 1, 2, 3 or 4 commits a civil violation for which 
a fine of not less than $50 and not more than $1,500, plus court costs, must be 
adjudged for any one offense.  Except pursuant to Title 15, section 3314, the fine may 
not be suspended. 
A-1.  An employer of a person who violates subsection 1, 2, 3 or 4 commits a civil 
violation for which a fine of not less than $50 and not more than $1,500 $300 for the 
first offense, not less than $600 for the 2nd offense and not less than $1,000 for each 
offense thereafter, plus court costs, must be adjudged.  The fine may not be 
suspended.  Each day in which a violation occurs constitutes a separate violation. 
B.  A person who violates subsection 5-A or 5-C commits a civil violation for which 
the following fines may be adjudged and may be subject to completing 
tobacco-related education classes, diversion programs or specified work for the 
benefit of the State, the municipality or other public entity or a charitable institution. 
(1)  For a first offense, a fine of not less than $100 and not more than $300 may 
be imposed.  The judge, as an alternative to or in addition to the fine permitted by 
this subparagraph, may assign the violator to perform specified work for the 
benefit of the State, the municipality or other public entity or a charitable 
institution. 
(2)  For a 2nd offense, a fine of not less than $200 and not more than $500 may 
be imposed.  The judge, as an alternative to or in addition to the fine permitted by 
this subparagraph, may assign the violator to perform specified work for the 
benefit of the State, the municipality or other public entity or a charitable 
institution. 
(3)  For all subsequent offenses, a fine of $500 must be imposed and that fine 
may not be suspended.  The judge, in addition to the fine permitted by this 
subparagraph, may assign the violator to perform specified work for the benefit 
of the State, the municipality or other public entity or a charitable institution. 
B-1.  A person who violates subsection 5-C commits a civil violation for which the 
following fines may be adjudged. 
(1)  For a first offense, a fine of not less than $100 and not more than $300 may 
be imposed.  The judge, as an alternative to or in addition to the fine permitted by 
this subparagraph, may assign the violator to perform specified work for the 
benefit of the State, the municipality or other public entity or a charitable 
institution. 
(2)  For a 2nd offense, a fine of not less than $200 and not more than $500 may 
be imposed.  The judge, as an alternative to or in addition to the fine permitted by 
this subparagraph, may assign the violator to perform specified work for the 
benefit of the State, the municipality or other public entity or a charitable 
institution. 
(3)  For all subsequent offenses, a fine of $500 must be imposed and that fine 
may not be suspended.  The judge, in addition to the fine permitted by this 
subparagraph, may assign the violator to perform specified work for the benefit 
of the State, the municipality or other public entity or a charitable institution. 
C.  A person who violates subsection 6 commits a civil violation for which a fine of 
not less than $50 and not more than $200 may be adjudged for any one offense. 
9.  Distribution of fines.  Fines and forfeitures collected pursuant to subchapter 1 
and this subchapter must be credited as follows:  one half to the General Fund and 1/2 to 
be deposited in a nonlapsing account of the Maine Criminal Justice Academy for the 
purpose of providing funds for training and recertification of part-time and full-time law 
enforcement officers. 
10.  Affirmative defense.  It is an affirmative defense to prosecution for a violation 
of subsection 1, 2 or 4 that the defendant sold, furnished, gave away or offered to sell, 
furnish or give away a tobacco product to a person under 18 21 years of age in reasonable 
reliance upon a fraudulent proof of age presented by the purchaser. 
11.  Manner of displaying and offering for sale.  Tobacco products may be 
displayed or offered for sale only in a manner that does not allow the purchaser direct 
access to the tobacco products.  The requirements of this subsection do not apply to the 
display or offering for sale of tobacco products in multi-unit packages of 10 or more 
units, in tobacco specialty stores or in locations in which the presence of minors is 
generally prohibited.  This requirement does not preempt a municipal ordinance that 
provides for more restrictive regulation of the sale of tobacco products. 
SUMMARY 
This bill raises the minimum legal age to purchase tobacco products from 18 years of 
age to 21 years of age.  The definition of "tobacco product" is expanded to include 
additional forms of tobacco and materials and devices used in the consumption of 
tobacco, including electronic smoking devices.  The bill also changes the penalties for the 
unlawful sale and purchase of tobacco products.