(a) Illegal Distribution of Cigarettes, Other Tobacco Products, or Alternative Nicotine Products.
(1) As used in this section:
A. “Age verification.” A service provided by an independent third party (other than a manufacturer, producer, distributor, wholesaler, or retailer of cigarettes, other tobacco products, alternative nicotine products, or papers used to roll cigarettes) that compares information available from a commercially available database, or aggregate of databases, that regularly are used by government and businesses for the purpose of age and identity verification to personal information provided during an internet sale or other remote method of sale to establish that the purchaser is twenty-one years of age or older.
B. “Alternative nicotine product.”
1. Subject to subsection (a)(1)B.2. of this section, an electronic smoking device, vapor product, or any other product or device that consists of or contains nicotine that can be ingested into the body by any means, including, but not limited to, chewing, smoking, absorbing, dissolving, or inhaling.
2. The phrase does not include any of the following:
a. Any cigarette or other tobacco product;
b. Any product that is a “drug” as that term is defined in 21 U.S.C. 321(g)(1);
c. Any product that is a “device” as that term is defined in 21 U.S.C. 321(h);
d. Any product that is a “combination product” as described in 21 U.S.C. 353(g).
C. “Cigarette.” Includes clove cigarettes and hand-rolled cigarettes.
D. “Distribute.” Means to furnish, give, or provide cigarettes, other tobacco products, alternative nicotine products, or papers used to roll cigarettes to the ultimate consumer of the cigarettes, other tobacco products, alternative nicotine products, or papers used to roll cigarettes.
E. “Electronic smoking device.” Means any device that can be used to deliver aerosolized or vaporized nicotine or any other substance to the person inhaling from the device including an electronic cigarette, electronic cigar, electronic hookah, vaping pen, or electronic pipe. The phrase includes any component, part, or accessory of such a device, whether or not sold separately, and includes any substance intended to be aerosolized or vaporized during the use of the device. The phrase does not include any product that is a drug, device, or combination product, as those terms are defined or described in 21 U.S.C. 321 and 353(g).
F. “Proof of age.” Means a driver’s license, a commercial driver’s license, a military identification card, a passport, or an identification card issued under Ohio R.C. 4507.50 to 4507.52 that shows that a person is eighteen years of age or older.
G. “Tobacco product.” Means any product that is made or derived from tobacco or that contains any form of nicotine, if it 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, an electronic smoking device, a cigar, pipe tobacco, chewing tobacco, snuff, or snus. The phrase also means any component or accessory used in the consumption of a tobacco product, such as filters, rolling papers, pipes, blunt or hemp wraps, and liquids used in electronic smoking devices, whether or not they contain nicotine. The phrase does not include any product that is a drug, device, or combination product, as those terms are defined or described in 21 U.S.C. 321 and 353(g).
H. “Vapor product.” Means a product, other than a cigarette or other tobacco product as defined in Ohio R.C. Chapter 5743, that contains or is made or derived from nicotine and that is intended and marketed for human consumption, including by smoking, inhaling, snorting, or sniffing. The phrase includes any component, part, or additive that is intended for use in an electronic smoking device, a mechanical heating element, battery, or electronic circuit and is used to deliver the product. The phrase does not include any product that is a drug, device, or combination product, as those terms are defined or described in 21 U.S.C. 321 and 353(g). The phrase includes any product containing nicotine, regardless of concentration.
I. “Vending machine.” Has the same meaning as “coin machine” in Ohio R.C. 2913.01.
(2) No manufacturer, producer, distributor, wholesaler, or retailer of cigarettes, other tobacco products, alternative nicotine products, or papers used to roll cigarettes, no agent, employee, or representative of a manufacturer, producer, distributor, wholesaler, or retailer of cigarettes, other tobacco products, alternative nicotine products, or papers used to roll cigarettes, and no other person shall do any of the following:
A. Give, sell, or otherwise distribute cigarettes, other tobacco products, alternative nicotine products, or papers used to roll cigarettes to any person under twenty-one years of age;
B. Give away, sell, or distribute cigarettes, other tobacco products, alternative nicotine products, or papers used to roll cigarettes in any place that does not have posted in a conspicuous place a legibly printed sign in letters at least one-half inch high stating that giving, selling, or otherwise distributing cigarettes, other tobacco products, alternative nicotine products, or papers used to roll cigarettes to a person under twenty-one years of age is prohibited by law;
C. Knowingly furnish any false information regarding the name, age, or other identification of any person under twenty-one years of age with purpose to obtain cigarettes, other tobacco products, alternative nicotine products, or papers used to roll cigarettes for that person;
D. Manufacture, sell, or distribute in this state any pack or other container of cigarettes containing fewer than twenty cigarettes or any package of roll-your-own tobacco containing less than six-tenths of one ounce of tobacco;
E. Sell cigarettes or alternative nicotine products in a smaller quantity than that placed in the pack or other container by the manufacturer;
F. Give, sell, or otherwise distribute alternative nicotine products, papers used to roll cigarettes, or tobacco products other than cigarettes over the internet or through another remote method without age verification.
(3) No person shall sell or offer to sell cigarettes, other tobacco products, or alternative nicotine products by or from a vending machine, except in the following locations:
A. An area within a factory, business, office, or other place not open to the general public;
B. An area to which persons under twenty-one years of age are not generally permitted access;
C. Any other place not identified in subsection (a)(3)A. or B. of this section, upon all of the following conditions:
1. The vending machine is located within the immediate vicinity, plain view, and control of the person who owns or operates the place, or an employee of that person, so that all cigarettes, other tobacco product, and alternative nicotine product purchases from the vending machine will be readily observed by the person who owns or operates the place or an employee of that person. For the purpose of this section, a vending machine located in any unmonitored area, including an unmonitored coatroom, restroom, hallway, or outer waiting area, shall not be considered located within the immediate vicinity, plain view, and control of the person who owns or operates the place, or an employee of that person.
2. The vending machine is inaccessible to the public when the place is closed.
3. A clearly visible notice is posted in the area where the vending machine is located that states the following in letters that are legibly printed and at least one-half inch high: “It is illegal for any person under the age of twenty-one to purchase tobacco or alternative nicotine products.”
(4) The following are affirmative defenses to a charge under subsection (a)(2)A. of this section:
A. The person under twenty-one years of age was accompanied by a parent, spouse who is twenty-one years of age or older, or legal guardian of the person under twenty-one years of age.
B. The person who gave, sold, or distributed cigarettes, other tobacco products, alternative nicotine products, or papers used to roll cigarettes to a person under twenty-one years of age under subsection (a)(2)A. of this section is a parent, spouse who is twenty-one years of age or older, or legal guardian of the person under twenty-one years of age.
(5) It is not a violation of subsection (a)(2)A. or B. of this section for a person to give or otherwise distribute to a person under twenty-one years of age cigarettes, other tobacco products, alternative nicotine products, or papers used to roll cigarettes while the person under twenty-one years of age is participating in a research protocol if all of the following apply:
A. The parent, guardian, or legal custodian of the person under twenty-one years of age has consented in writing to the person under twenty-one years of age participating in the research protocol.
B. An institutional human subjects protection review board, or an equivalent entity, has approved the research protocol.
C. The person under twenty-one years of age is participating in the research protocol at the facility or location specified in the research protocol.
(6) A. Whoever violates subsection (a)(2)A., B., D., E., or F. or (a)(3) of this section is guilty of illegal distribution of cigarettes, other tobacco products, or alternative nicotine products. Except as otherwise provided in this division, illegal distribution of cigarettes, other tobacco products, or alternative nicotine products is a misdemeanor of the fourth degree. If the offender previously has been convicted of a violation of subsection (a)(2)A., B., D., E., or F. or (a)(3) of this section or a substantially equivalent state law or municipal ordinance, illegal distribution of cigarettes, other tobacco products, or alternative nicotine products is a misdemeanor of the third degree.
B. Whoever violates subsection (a)(2)C. of this section is guilty of permitting a person under twenty-one years of age to use cigarettes, other tobacco products, or alternative nicotine products. Except as otherwise provided in this division, permitting a person under twenty-one years of age to use cigarettes, other tobacco products, or alternative nicotine products is a misdemeanor of the fourth degree. If the offender previously has been convicted of a violation of subsection (a)(2)C. of this section or a substantially equivalent state law or municipal ordinance, permitting a person under twenty-one years of age to use cigarettes, other tobacco products, or alternative nicotine products is a misdemeanor of the third degree.
(7) Any cigarettes, other tobacco products, alternative nicotine products, or papers used to roll cigarettes that are given, sold, or otherwise distributed to a person under twenty-one years of age in violation of this section and that are used, possessed, purchased, or received by a person under twenty-one years of age in violation of Ohio R.C. 2151.87 are subject to seizure and forfeiture as contraband under Ohio R.C. Chapter 2981.
(ORC 2927.02)
(b) Transaction Scan.
(1) For the purpose of this subsection (b) and subsection (c) of this section, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
A. “Card holder.” Any person who presents a driver’s or commercial driver’s license or an identification card to a seller, or an agent or employee of a seller, to purchase or receive cigarettes, other tobacco products, or alternative nicotine products from a seller, agent or employee.
B. “Identification card.” An identification card issued under Ohio R.C. 4507.50 to 4507.52.
C. “Seller.” A seller of cigarettes, other tobacco products, or alternative nicotine products and includes any person whose gift of or other distribution of cigarettes, other tobacco products, or alternative nicotine products is subject to the prohibitions of subsection (a) of this section.
D. “Transaction scan.” The process by which a seller or an agent or employee of a seller checks, by means of a transaction scan device, the validity of a driver’s or commercial driver’s license or an identification card that is presented as a condition for purchasing or receiving cigarettes, other tobacco products, or alternative nicotine products.
E. “Transaction scan device.” Any commercial device or combination of devices used at a point of sale that is capable of deciphering in an electronically readable format the information encoded on the magnetic strip or bar code of a driver’s or commercial driver’s license or an identification card.
(2) A. A seller or an agent or employee of a seller may perform a transaction scan by means of a transaction scan device to check the validity of a driver’s or commercial driver’s license or identification card presented by a card holder as a condition for selling, giving away or otherwise distributing to the card holder cigarettes, other tobacco products, or alternative nicotine products.
B. If the information deciphered by the transaction scan performed under subsection (b)(2)A. of this section fails to match the information printed on the driver’s or commercial driver’s license or identification card presented by the card holder, or if the transaction scan indicates that the information so printed is false or fraudulent, neither the seller nor any agent or employee of the seller shall sell, give away or otherwise distribute any cigarettes, other tobacco products, or alternative nicotine products to the card holder.
C. Subsection (b)(2)A. of this section does not preclude a seller or an agent or employee of a seller from using a transaction scan device to check the validity of a document other than a driver’s or commercial driver’s license or identification card, if the document includes a bar code or magnetic strip that may be scanned by the device, as a condition for selling, giving away or otherwise distributing cigarettes, other tobacco products, or alternative nicotine products to the person presenting the document.
(3) Rules adopted by the Registrar of Motor Vehicles under Ohio R.C. 4301.61(C) apply to the use of transaction scan devices for purposes of this subsection (b) and subsection (c) of this section.
(4) A. No seller or agent or employee of a seller shall electronically or mechanically record or maintain any information derived from a transaction scan, except for the following:
1. The name and date of birth of the person listed on the driver’s or commercial driver’s license or identification card presented by the card holder;
2. The expiration date and identification number of the driver’s or commercial driver’s license or identification card presented by the card holder.
B. No seller or agent or employee of a seller shall use the information that is derived from a transaction scan or that is permitted to be recorded and maintained under subsection (b)(4)A. of this section, except for purposes of subsection (c) of this section.
C. No seller or agent or employee of a seller shall use a transaction scan device for a purpose other than the purpose specified in subsection (c)(2)A. of this section.
D. No seller or agent or employee of a seller shall sell or otherwise disseminate the information derived from a transaction scan to any third party, including but not limited to selling or otherwise disseminating that information for any marketing, advertising or promotional activities, but a seller or agent or employee of a seller may release that information pursuant to a court order or as specifically authorized by subsection (c) of this section or another section of these Codified Ordinances or the Ohio Revised Code.
(5) Nothing in this subsection (b) or subsection (c) of this section relieves a seller or an agent or employee of a seller of any responsibility to comply with any other applicable local, state or federal laws or rules governing the sale, giving away or other distribution of cigarettes, other tobacco products, or alternative nicotine products.
(6) Whoever violates subsection (b)(2)B. or (b)(4) of this section is guilty of engaging in an illegal tobacco product or alternative nicotine product transaction scan, and the court may impose upon the offender a civil penalty of up to one thousand dollars ($1,000) for each violation. The Clerk of the Court shall pay each collected civil penalty to the County Treasurer for deposit into the County Treasury.
(ORC 2927.021)
(c) Affirmative Defenses.
(1) A seller or an agent or employee of a seller may not be found guilty of a charge of a violation of subsection (a) of this section in which the age of the purchaser or other recipient of cigarettes, other tobacco products, or alternative nicotine products is an element of the alleged violation, if the seller, agent or employee raises and proves as an affirmative defense that all of the following occurred:
A. A card holder attempting to purchase or receive cigarettes, other tobacco products, or alternative nicotine products presented a driver’s or commercial driver’s license or an identification card.
B. A transaction scan of the driver’s or commercial driver’s license or identification card that the card holder presented indicated that the license or card was valid.
C. The cigarettes, other tobacco products, or alternative nicotine products were sold, given away or otherwise distributed to the card holder in reasonable reliance upon the identification presented and the completed transaction scan.
(2) In determining whether a seller or an agent or employee of a seller has proven the affirmative defense provided by subsection (c)(1) of this section, the trier of fact in the action for the alleged violation of subsection (a) of this section shall consider any written policy that the seller has adopted and implemented and that is intended to prevent violations of subsection (a) of this section. For purposes of subsection (c)(1)C. of this section, the trier of fact shall consider that reasonable reliance upon the identification presented and the completed transaction scan may require a seller or an agent or employee of a seller to exercise reasonable diligence to determine, and that the use of a transaction scan device does not excuse a seller or an agent or employee of a seller from exercising reasonable diligence to determine, the following:
A. Whether a person to whom the seller or agent or employee of a seller sells, gives away or otherwise distributes cigarettes, other tobacco products, or alternative nicotine products is twenty-one years of age or older;
B. Whether the description and picture appearing on the driver’s or commercial driver’s license or identification card presented by a card holder is that of the card holder.
(3) In any criminal action in which the affirmative defense provided by subsection (c)(1) of this section is raised, the Registrar of Motor Vehicles or a Deputy Registrar who issued an identification card under Ohio R.C. 4507.50 to 4507.52 shall be permitted to submit certified copies of the records of that issuance in lieu of the testimony of the personnel of or contractors with the Bureau of Motor Vehicles in the action.
(ORC 2927.022)
(d) Shipment of Tobacco Products.
(1) As used in this subsection (d):
A. “Authorized recipient of tobacco products” means a person who is:
1. Licensed as a cigarette wholesale dealer under Ohio R.C. 5743.15;
2. Licensed as a retail dealer as long as the person purchases cigarettes with the appropriate tax stamp affixed;
3. An export warehouse proprietor as defined in Section 5702 of the Internal Revenue Code;
4. An operator of a customs bonded warehouse under 19 U.S.C. 1311 or 19 U.S.C. 1555;
5. An officer, employee, or agent of the federal government or of this state acting in the person’s official capacity;
6. A department, agency, instrumentality, or political subdivision of the federal government or of this state;
7. A person having a consent for consumer shipment issued by the Tax Commissioner under Ohio R.C. 5743.71.
B. “Motor carrier.” Has the same meaning as in Ohio R.C. 4923.01.
(2) The purpose of this division (d) is to prevent the sale of cigarettes to minors and to ensure compliance with the Master Settlement Agreement, as defined in Ohio R.C. 1346.01.
(3) A. No person shall cause to be shipped any cigarettes to any person in this municipality other than an authorized recipient of tobacco products.
B. No motor carrier or other person shall knowingly transport cigarettes to any person in this municipality that the carrier or other person reasonably believes is not an authorized recipient of tobacco products. If cigarettes are transported to a home or residence, it shall be presumed that the motor carrier or other person knew that the person to whom the cigarettes were delivered was not an authorized recipient of tobacco products.
(4) No person engaged in the business of selling cigarettes who ships or causes to be shipped cigarettes to any person in this municipality in any container or wrapping other than the original container or wrapping of the cigarettes shall fail to plainly and visibly mark the exterior of the container or wrapping in which the cigarettes are shipped with the words “cigarettes.”
(5) A court shall impose a fine of up to one thousand dollars ($1,000) for each violation of subsection (d)(3)A., (d)(3)B. or (d)(4) of this section.
(ORC 2927.023)
(e) Furnishing False Information to Obtain Tobacco Products.
(1) No person who is eighteen years of age or older but younger than twenty-one years of age shall knowingly furnish false information concerning that person’s name, age, or other identification for the purpose of obtaining tobacco products.
(2) Whoever violates subsection (e)(1) of this section is guilty of furnishing false information to obtain tobacco products. Except as otherwise provided in this division, furnishing false information to obtain tobacco products is a misdemeanor of the fourth degree. If the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to a violation of subsection (e)(1) of this section or a substantially equivalent state law or municipal ordinance, furnishing false information to obtain tobacco products is a misdemeanor of the third degree.
(ORC 2927.024)