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See 6,000 Illegal Smokes? Call Peter Franchot

The comptroller wants you to know that the pile of cigarettes in the back of the car next to you probably aren't for personal use.

If you see something—for example, 6,000 packs of cigarettes in the back of a car—say something.

Specifically, Comptroller Peter Franchot wants you to give him a ring.

The comptroller was in Towson Thursday calling attention to the that have not been taxed in Maryland.

Franchot said lax criminal penalties and high profit margins for smugglers is causing a spike in the trafficking of smokes up the I-95 corridor from places like Virginia and North Carolina where the taxes on a pack are substantially lower than in Maryland.

The comptroller called on the public to keep a vigilant eye out for motorists who might have a few more cigarettes than the typical chain-smoker.

Two weeks ago, police during traffic stops along I-95 near White Marsh, including more than 3,100 that were inside a Honda Accord

"If you happen to look in someone's car and you see 6,000 packs of cigarettes in the back seat, could you call my office?" Franchot said. "We would like to ask those people what the story is."

Don't bother calling if the driver is Keith Richards.

Keep up with what's happening in Baltimore County politics by following Bryan P. Sears on Twitter and Facebook.

amdactivist May 4, 2012 at 09:54 pm
Paul, did i say it did? You think you know so much and you don't.. You trying to silence me and it'll never happen.. Keep it up GP.. Your wrong and i'm right. I don't break the laws..I don't feast on criminals at my family's expense and future ..try working homeless shelters.. Ask them why they there..
Buck Harmon May 4, 2012 at 10:29 pm
Landmark Homes built a lot of plastic shacks... are they still in business?
Paul Amirault May 4, 2012 at 10:45 pm
I disagree with your characterization Buck. And would bet most of their "plastic" shacks are better homes than 90% of what is out there, including yours.
But I believe they went out in 1997-1998
Paul Amirault May 4, 2012 at 10:48 pm
Jackie Auburn, don't you feel better now that you are out of the shadows and into the light where your friends can see who you are and what your darkest thoughts are? Liberating isn't it? Buck and I would probably agree on that, not much else though!
amdactivist May 4, 2012 at 11:05 pm
Keep trying paul. You'll get it right one of these days.. Fyi all my friends know who i am.. Can't wait to share your videos.. lol..
Buck Harmon May 4, 2012 at 11:06 pm
I do respect the fact that you use your real name Paul....The divide that we share could have a positive impact if you would just see things my way...
jag May 5, 2012 at 02:50 am
Yay, someone outdid amdactivist and Katie w/the baseless name calling and hate mongering. Way to go, racist (P.S. just because you state something as not racist doesn't make it not racist). Is this what the Baltimore blogs are always like? And I thought the racism against latinos on the MoCo blogs was bad! Sheesh.
Lorna D. Rudnikas May 5, 2012 at 03:02 am
Sorry - can't resist....since when has "latino" been a race???? That will definitely be a surprise to latino folks!!
jag May 5, 2012 at 03:59 am
Seriously? That's what you take from this? Some inane etymological issue? Are you a census worker or something? Anyways, yes, latinos are targeted based on race. If that's not what I said (I can't see what I said), then I apologize. I'm sure it was very hard to make the leap in understanding to grasp my meaning. I hope you're able to sleep soundly now that I've explained it.
Lorna D. Rudnikas May 5, 2012 at 07:26 am
Wow! Your anger-bound attitude is off the chart. Calm down, honey child!
Karl May 5, 2012 at 09:56 am
My goodness, this chain wound far from cigarette trafficing. That being said, I'll re-enter the fray of mental masturbation. (Oops, mixed metaphore)
Re: 90 year-old racist. I'm a seventy year-old racist. In spite of most peoples' denial, we are all racists. It's natural human nature to like PLUs (People Like Us). It's been that way ever since Piltdown man copulated with Neanderthal man, subjugated them into slavery and eventually Killed off the species entirely. That was the most effective homo sapian genocide ever. Piltdowns did that to improve their own quality of life. Crude, wasn't it. I'm not suggesting we practice genocide. I am suggesting every race, religion, nationality, socio-economic class, etc. is prejudiced, EVERY GROUP. "Can't we all just get along?"
amdactivist May 5, 2012 at 10:43 am
jag is so deep into denial he can't focus on his daily duties.. geez jag.. get with the program and stop being such a hater..
amdactivist May 5, 2012 at 10:46 am
buck .. landmark homes.. they were duds.. find out who had their hands in building them..
Brook Hubbard May 5, 2012 at 01:24 pm
All I've read from this conversation is that there is little hope for the human race, especially in America. This is what happens when you give people skewed information then let them spout their opinions as if they actually know a damn thing. If this is the way both sides of the aisle are moving, I fear another Civil War coming...
SOUTHWESTMINSTER May 5, 2012 at 01:42 pm
I need a cigarette!
1ke May 5, 2012 at 01:46 pm
My ancestors came to this country in chains and they lived on the edge of poverty and disease flipped back and forth by the international flow of goods and the changing means of production. Chances are that they were lawless and profane people who hooked up young and got married because you lived an outcast if you didn't.
They were pirates, poachers and moonshiners who lived in a closely packed enclave where they could duck back and forth across state lines to do what they needed to do. The Irish, the Italians, Slavs and Jews, all in turn, endured the same kind of stigma you are attaching to Latinos. Be a happier person, AMD, and cut it loose.
1ke May 5, 2012 at 01:58 pm
Analysis of any aspect of human existence that refers to race is riddled with contradictions and ridiculous concepts. Arguments based on race are invariably flawed and simplistic. You might as well argue based on characteristics of toenails or by inspections of animal entrails.
1ke May 5, 2012 at 04:07 pm
Yes, the comment was caustic and rotten. Emigration is always an act of desperation as people in dire straits try to find a better way to live.
Are you reading the whole thread? Do you approve of the intolerance and jingoism? As for me, I am rooting for anybody who can beg, borrow or steal their way into the U.S. Immigrants have been picked over and sorted and deported even in the very shadow of the Statue of Liberty. I want a more courteous and civil discourse here, but, alas, that is unlikely. Oh, by the way, I read the letter to the editor which you so proudly sported. It left me flat. Tiny government. Tony Silver Spring.
amdactivist May 5, 2012 at 05:10 pm
Ike, apparently your view on begging and stealing there way into our country is your way of making it right? Apparently you don't have family to worry about who pays for their begging and stealing.. our tax $$ pay for all of it.. These immigrants of today the Border jumpers aren't the immigrants of yesterday. Try and see the logic. Why have passports for any country then? Why frisk at the airports coming or going? Just allow open borders that bring in criminals, their weapons, gangs, disease and so on at our expense is ok with you? Unbelieveable logic.. Maybe you can afford it or your one of the 47% of non workers who get everything handed to them. Ever wonder why rents,food, utilities and every dang this is so outrageously expensive?
1ke May 5, 2012 at 06:13 pm
There is, in fact, enough to go around, AMD. They are the immigrants of today doing the dirty work that we have raised our children to think is beneath them: turning back sheets, picking crops, finishing concrete, cutting grass, caring for old people.
American companies have tried to send enough factory jobs to foreign countries to keep indigenous populations employed at low wages and our children unemployed and popping oxycodone. Immigrants simply represent the overflow. Taxes? I pay aplenty and will not ever whine. Hey, my tax dollar pays for U.S. Customs, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Homeland Security Administration and the Border Patrol. Armed vigilantes riding around in 4-wheelers with light bars do their share. Only the fittest slip through. Bless their hearts. They are vigorous and their grandchildren will keep the U.S. relevant. Incidentally, why do you even speculate about who I am? I am being clear about what I think, right?
amdactivist May 5, 2012 at 07:44 pm
Ike. Maybe you don't see it but i know what's happening and it isn't good. Unemployment down, high gas, tolls, politicians resorting to camera's to stiff the taxpayers. All high taxes are due to illegals & their employers. It is not right that they come here with no proof of who they are.They were forced to have id in mexico and they come here and they claim no id. How many of them getting multiple welfare checks and food stamps. Watch who pays with what at the grocers and whats in there carts.Steaks,lobster etc and paid with our tax $$.. Is it right that employers can discriminate by hiring all illegals. No blacks or whites? Is it right that illegals unemployment in baltimore city is at 11% and blacks 15%? Is it right that a citizen is forced to pay for non citizens. My children were raised to scrub floors on their hands and knees and to make their beds correctly and change there sheets.They aren't afraid to do any jobs. Watch the video, *we have many like this* and tell me this is right. Also while your at it see what cars they driving to the welfare office and tell me its right.. http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=2ue6wjPu6K8
All of who whiting turner hires are hispanics/illegals and the only whites or blacks are PE's at least on the sites we've seen. We have video's like this from many companies..They pay great campaign support to our corrupt politicians.. I will agree they work hard but so do we..
amdactivist May 5, 2012 at 07:45 pm
If this one doesn't get to you nothing will..
Http://youtu.be/IpADSHQZVYY
John May 6, 2012 at 04:29 pm
So much hatred of Maryland. Some of you people really should just move to Texas, Louisiana, Wyoming, or whatever other state the Tax Foundation claims has a low tax burden. Life's too short to harbor so much nastiness and to hate the place where you live. But if you do move, good luck finding a good-paying job in your new low-tax state, or a decent public school.
Joe Thomas May 7, 2012 at 03:46 am
If you dopes don't like the taxes in Maryland then the phone book is full of listings for moving companies. Move to some state where the taxes are next to nothing. But on the other hand in that other state it might take the police two hours to get to your house when someone is breaking in because they are only able to put two officers on the street in the whole county at any given time.
Go that other state where the nearest fire department is forty miles away because they can't afford to build fire stations or hire firemen. Go to that other state where some guy can buy the property next to yours and build a gas station and repair shop because there are no zoning laws or zoning inspectors. I don't mind paying the taxes that I do because I receive excellent police and fire service and the county government is responsive.
amdactivist May 7, 2012 at 04:03 am
Joe, what do you think of our politicians giving our $$$ to teach illegal immigrants job skills while laying off cops and fireman and closing down some of their stations? Md is the 4th highest taxed state in the country and probably the most corrupt.. AS far as county government responsive well baltimore county isn't too bad but check out other counties. Try asking DLLR a question and get 4 different answers as they keep forwarding your calls.Nobody knows what they're doing..
Skip727 May 7, 2012 at 11:39 am
Frank, I concur. From bootleg cigs to rapidly deteriorating racist, mysogynistic, xenophobic rants. Sprinkle in some liberal and conservative bias and misinformation and you have....THIS!!!
Thanks, Brian for the story.
amdactivist May 7, 2012 at 12:07 pm
yeah skip and some people can't tell the difference between racist and just plain wrong!!
Buck Harmon May 7, 2012 at 01:27 pm
If everyone would just exercise their second amendment right...only 2 police officers would be needed in rural towns....even in this state...
Buck Harmon May 7, 2012 at 01:31 pm
If someone were to build anything that would harm the private property of others in any way it could not be legally done...even without perceived zoning laws...
R Lee May 22, 2012 at 12:26 pm
Bootleg cigs- a minor problem.
BAG TAX- a major annoyance. Let's repeal the Bag Tax-

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