Emergency Tobacco Rules

Thursday, May 31st 2007, 8:24 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- A state rule intended to stop tribal smoke shops from selling cigarettes with a cheaper tax stamp than allowed is being withdrawn. Arbitrators will now determine if it and another rule violates tobacco compacts between the state and the tribes.

The rules were passed by the state Tax Commission to prevent tribal tobacco stores from improperly selling cigarettes with a 6-cent tax stamp which is meant only for certain areas near the Oklahoma border.

Tribes that have a compact with the state are to sell cigarettes with an 86-cent tax stamp and tribes without a compact are to have a 77-cent tax stamp.

The 6-cent stamps are for stores near the state's border with other states that have cheaper tobacco taxes.