(Oro-Medonte, ON) – On Saturday April 12th, 2014 at 12:40 am, a Barrie Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) officer was conducting radar enforcement on Highway 11 northbound in Oro-Medonte Twp when a speeding motor vehicle caught his attention.
The motorist was stopped and the officer observed a clear bag containing several hundred unmarked cigarettes. The officer contacted the Ministry of Finance and spoke to an investigator. Under the authority of the Tobacco Tax Act, the vehicle was searched and the unmarked cigarettes were seized.
The 36 year old male from Essa twp was issued a Part 111 Summons for Possession of Unmarked Cigarettes contrary to the Tobacco Tax Act, section 29(2). The driver of this motor vehicle was only a G1 licenced driver he was further charged with Speeding, Driving at an unlawful hour and Unaccompanied by a qualified driver. He is scheduled to appear in court on June 6, 2014.
It is an offence to possess any quantity of unmarked cigarettes unless permitted under the Tobacco Tax Act or the regulations to do so. First Nations people or Diplomats can be in possession of unmarked cigarettes.