About that cross-state booze run: Bootlegging is still a crime in Pennsylvania, even during a pandemic – By Charles Thompson (Pennlive) / April 2 2020
About that surge in cross-border alcohol shopping since the coronavirus-related closure of the state-owned liquor stores in Pennsylvania on March 16: It is still illegal to for Pennsylvania residents to buy wine or liquor out of state and bring it home for consumption.
According to the letter of the law at present, violators – i.e. anyone who is not a licensed hauler – caught bringing alcohol in from out-of-state and specifically, not purchased from a Pennsylvania liquor store or licensee are subject to fines of $10 per bottle or can of beer, and $25 per bottle of liquor. Police will also confiscate the alcohol.
It’s not enforced a ton.
A 2016 PennLive story on legislative efforts to decriminalize cross-border buying – which did not make the final cut in a series of liquor law reforms passed that year – noted that in the years from 2007 through 2015, Pennsylvania State Police only issued 16 total citations under the state liquor code provision.
Continue to article: https://www.pennlive.com/news/2020/04/about-that-cross-state-booze-run-bootlegging-is-still-a-crime-in-pennsylvania-even-during-a-pandemic.html
