Indiana statute
Ind. Code § 35-46-1-10 — Sale or distribution of tobacco product or vapor device
Current through 2026 Regular Session
Part of Chapter 1: Offenses Against the Family, Indiana Code.
Criminal charges under this statute
Full text of Ind. Code § 35-46-1-10
Statutory text current through the 2026 Regular Session. This publication reproduces the official statutory text; it is not the official statutes of the State of Indiana.
Sec. 10. (a) A person may not be charged with a violation under this section and a violation under IC 7.1-7-6-5 . (b) A person who knowingly: (1) sells or distributes a tobacco product or a vapor device to a person less than twenty-one (21) years of age; or (2) purchases a tobacco product or a vapor device for delivery to another person who is less than twenty-one (21) years of age; commits a Class B infraction. For a sale to take place under this section, the buyer must pay the seller for the tobacco product or vapor device. (c) It is not a defense that the person to whom the tobacco product or vapor device was sold or distributed did not smoke, chew, inhale, or otherwise consume the tobacco product or vapor device. (d) The following defenses are available to a person accused of selling or distributing a tobacco product or a vapor device to a person who is less than twenty-one (21) years of age: (1) The buyer or recipient produced a driver's license bearing the purchaser's or recipient's photograph, showing that the purchaser or recipient was of legal age to make the purchase. (2) The buyer or recipient produced a photographic identification card issued under IC 9-24-16-1 , or a similar card issued under the laws of another state or the federal government, showing that the purchaser or recipient was of legal age to make the purchase. (3) The appearance of the purchaser or recipient was such that an ordinary prudent person would believe that the purchaser or recipient was not less than thirty (30) years of age. (e) It is a defense that the accused person sold or delivered the tobacco product or vapor device to a person who acted in the ordinary course of employment or a business concerning tobacco products or vapor devices including the following activities: (1) Agriculture. (2) Processing. (3) Transporting. (4) Wholesaling. (5) Retailing. (f) As used in this section, "distribute" means to give a tobacco product or a vapor device to another person as a means of promoting, advertising, or marketing the tobacco product or vapor device to the general public. (g) Unless the person buys or receives a tobacco product or a vapor device under the direction of a law enforcement officer as part of an enforcement action, a person who sells or distributes a tobacco product or a vapor device is not liable for a violation of this section unless the person less than twenty-one (21) years of age who bought or received the tobacco product or vapor device is issued a citation or summons under section 10.5 of this chapter. (h) Notwithstanding IC 34-28-5-5 (c), civil penalties collected under this section must be deposited in the Richard D. Doyle tobacco education and enforcement fund ( IC 7.1-6-2-6 ).
Official sources
Legal terms used in this section
Questions this section answers
Is sale or distribution of tobacco product or vapor device a felony or a misdemeanor in Indiana?
Sale or distribution of tobacco product or vapor device is a Class B Infraction in Indiana under Ind. Code § 35-46-1-10.
Which Indiana statute covers sale or distribution of tobacco product or vapor device?
Sale or distribution of tobacco product or vapor device is governed by Ind. Code § 35-46-1-10 (Sale or distribution of tobacco product or vapor device).
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.