§ 7-55  VENDORS' DUTIES; COLLECTION.
   (A)   The tax levied hereunder shall be paid by the consumer or user to the vendor, and it shall be the duty of each and every vendor in this city to collect from the consumer or user the full amount of the tax levied by this article, or an amount equal as nearly as possible or practicable to the average equivalent thereof.
   (B)   Vendors shall add the tax imposed hereunder, or the average equivalent thereof, to the sales price or charge, and when added, the tax shall constitute a part of the price or charge, shall be a debt from the consumer or user to vendor until paid, and shall be recoverable at law in the same manner as other debts.
   (C)   A vendor, as defined herein, who willfully or intentionally fails, neglects or refuses to collect the full amount of the tax levied hereof, or willfully or intentionally fails, neglects or refuses to comply with the provisions or remits or rebates to a consumer or user, either directly or indirectly, and by whatsoever means, all or any part of the tax levied herein, or makes in any form of advertising, verbally or otherwise any statement which infers that he is absorbing the tax, or paying the tax for the consumer or user by an adjustment of prices or at a price including the tax, or in any manner whatsoever shall be deemed guilty of an offense, and upon conviction thereof shall be fined as provided in § 12-34 of this code, plus costs.
(`90 Code, § 7-38)