[§245‑2.6]  Unlawful tobaccoretailing in the first degree.  (a)  Beginning March 1, 2007, a person orentity required to obtain a retail tobacco permit commits the offense ofunlawful tobacco retailing in the first degree if the person or entity knowinglyfails to obtain a valid permit required under section 245-2.5 and, for thepurposes of retail sale, recklessly sells, possesses, stores, acquires,distributes, or transports five thousand or more cigarettes.

(b)  Unlawful tobacco retailing in the first degreeis a misdemeanor, except that any offense under subsection (a) that occurswithin five years of a conviction for unlawful tobacco retailing in the firstdegree is a class C felony. [L 2005, c 131, pt of §1, §9(2); am L 2009, c 30,§2]