Sec. 1.
(1) A person shall not sell, give, or furnish a tobacco product to a minor. A person who violates this subsection is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not more than $50.00 for each violation.
(2) A person who sells tobacco products at retail shall post, in a place close to the point of sale and conspicuous to both employees and customers, a sign produced by the department of community health that includes the following statement:
"The purchase of tobacco products by a minor under 18 years of age and the provision of tobacco products to a minor are prohibited by law. A minor unlawfully purchasing or using tobacco products is subject to criminal penalties.".
(3) If the sign required under subsection (2) is more than 6 feet from the point of sale, it shall be 5-1/2 inches by 8-1/2 inches and the statement required under subsection (2) shall be printed in 36-point boldfaced type. If the sign required under subsection (2) is 6 feet or less from the point of sale, it shall be 2 inches by 4 inches and the statement required under subsection (2) shall be printed in 20-point boldfaced type.
(4) The department of community health shall produce the sign required under subsection (2) and have adequate copies of the sign ready for distribution to licensed wholesalers, secondary wholesalers, and unclassified acquirers of tobacco products free of charge. Licensed wholesalers, secondary wholesalers, and unclassified acquirers of tobacco products shall obtain copies of the sign from the department of community health and distribute them free of charge, upon request, to persons who are subject to subsection (2). The department of community health shall provide copies of the sign free of charge, upon request, to persons subject to subsection (2) who do not purchase their supply of tobacco products from wholesalers, secondary wholesalers, and unclassified acquirers of tobacco products licensed under the tobacco products tax act, 1993 PA 327, MCL 205.421 to 205.436.
(5) It is an affirmative defense to a charge under subsection (1) that the defendant had in force at the time of arrest and continues to have in force a written policy to prevent the sale of tobacco products to persons under 18 years of age and that the defendant enforced and continues to enforce the policy. A defendant who proposes to offer evidence of the affirmative defense described in this subsection shall file and serve notice of the defense, in writing, upon the court and the prosecuting attorney. The notice shall be served not less than 14 days before the date set for trial.
(6) A prosecuting attorney who proposes to offer testimony to rebut the affirmative defense described in subsection (5) shall file and serve a notice of rebuttal, in writing, upon the court and the defendant. The notice shall be served not less than 7 days before the date set for trial and shall contain the name and address of each rebuttal witness.
(7) Subsection (1) does not apply to the handling or transportation of a tobacco product by a minor under the terms of that minor's employment.
History: 1915, Act 31, Eff. Aug. 24, 1915 ;-- CL 1915, 5185 ;-- CL 1929, 12826 ;-- CL 1948, 722.641 ;-- Am. 1972, Act 29, Imd. Eff. Feb. 19, 1972 ;-- Am. 1988, Act 314, Eff. Mar. 30, 1989 ;-- Am. 2006, Act 236, Eff. Sept. 1, 2006
Last modified: October 10, 2016