Me. Stat. tit. 28-A § 2073-B

Current through 131st (2023-2024) Legislature Chapter 684
Section 2073-B - In-state transportation of spirits
1.Prohibition. Except as provided in subsection 2, section 1201-A or section 2073-E, a person may not transport more than 4 liters of spirits within the State unless the spirits were legally purchased from:
A. An agency liquor store; or [2021, c. 658, §268(NEW).]
B. An in-state manufacturer authorized under section 1355-A to sell spirits for off-premises consumption. [2021, c. 658, §268(NEW).]

[2021, c. 658, §268(NEW).]

2.Exceptions. Notwithstanding subsection 1, a person may transport spirits within the State in the following circumstances.
A. An individual may transport spirits within the State in accordance with a permit issued under section 2073-A, subsection 2, paragraph B. [RR 2021, c. 2, Pt. A, §102(COR).]
B. A person may transport spirits the person transported into the State pursuant to section 2073-A, subsection 2, paragraph C to:
(1) A warehouse designated by the commission under section 81;
(2) A bottler or rectifier licensed under section 1355-A;
(3) A winery, small winery or tenant winery licensed under section 1355-A, for the production of fortified wine; or
(4) A brewery, small brewery or tenant brewery licensed under section 1355-A, for the production of low-alcohol spirits products containing malt liquor. [2021, c. 658, §268(NEW).]
C. A licensed in-state manufacturer of spirits may transport spirits produced by the manufacturer or may cause a common carrier or contract carrier authorized by the Department of Public Safety to transport spirits produced by the manufacturer to:
(1) A warehouse designated by the commission under section 81;
(2) A bottler or rectifier licensed under section 1355-A;
(3) A winery, small winery or tenant winery licensed under section 1355-A, for the production of fortified wine;
(4) A brewery, small brewery or tenant brewery licensed under section 1355-A, for the production of low-alcohol spirits products containing malt liquor;
(5) Any location to which the licensed in-state manufacturer of spirits is authorized to transport its own products under section 1355-A; or
(6) The state line for transportation outside the State. [2021, c. 658, §268(NEW).]
D. The wholesale spirits provider may transport spirits between warehouses designated by the commission under section 81 or to agency liquor stores as provided in section 503. [2021, c. 658, §268(NEW).]
E. A reselling agent may transport spirits to on-premises retail licensees as provided in section 459. [2021, c. 658, §268(NEW).]

Each shipment of spirits transported within the State in accordance with paragraph B, C, D or E must be accompanied by an invoice that includes the purchase number and the names of the sender and intended recipient of the spirits.

[RR 2021, c. 2, Pt. A, §102(COR).]

3.Penalties. The following penalties apply to violations of this section.
A. A person that transports within the State a quantity of less than 40 liters of spirits in violation of this section commits a civil violation for which a fine of not more than $500 may be adjudged. [2021, c. 658, §268(NEW).]
B. A person that transports within the State a quantity of 40 or more liters of spirits in violation of this section commits a Class E crime, which is a strict liability crime as defined in Title 17-A, section 34, subsection 4-A. [2021, c. 658, §268(NEW).]

[2021, c. 658, §268(NEW).]

4.Evidence. The possession of more than 8 liters of spirits in one or more containers that are not labeled in accordance with Title 38, section 3105 is prima facie evidence of a violation of this section.

[2021, c. 658, §268(NEW).]

5.Forfeiture. Notwithstanding section 2221-A, a court shall order spirits transported within the State in violation of this section to be forfeited to the State and disposed of as provided in section 2229:
A. If a person fails to appear in court either in person or by counsel on the date and time specified in response to a Uniform Summons and Complaint issued for a violation of this section; or [2021, c. 658, §268(NEW).]
B. As part of every adjudication and imposition of a fine under subsection 3, paragraph A and every conviction under subsection 3, paragraph B. [2021, c. 658, §268(NEW).]

[2021, c. 658, §268(NEW).]

28-A M.R.S. § 2073-B

Added by 2022, c. 658,§ 268, eff. 8/8/2022.
As corrected by Revisor.