Everybody who came into Bobby’s Market on Saturday afternoon agreed on one thing: Buying cigarettes in Virginia – no matter where you live – should not be a...

Everybody who came into Bobby’s Market on Saturday afternoon agreed on one thing: Buying cigarettes in Virginia – no matter where you live – should not be a crime.

Tennessee Department of Revenue officials said Friday surveillance of tobacco retailers just over state lines will begin soon. The problem, they say, is folks from Tennessee who drive to Virginia or other border state to buy cigarettes in bulk to avoid higher Tennessee taxes.

"Everybody that’s been in here today has been talking about it," said Kim Sproles, whose family owns Bobby’s Market on Benhams Road.

Possessing more than 20 packs – or two cartons – of cigarettes not bearing Tennessee revenue stamps is a misdemeanor in the state. Possession of more than 25 cartons of untaxed cigarettes is a felony.

Tennessee’s cigarette tax increased from 20 cents per pack to 62 cents per pack in July. Revenue officials say the tax hike may be leading to large sales in neighboring states with lower cigarette taxes.

Kim Sproles’ family has been in the cigarette business for more than 30 years. Her father-in-law opened Bobby’s Market in 1982, and recently, her husband took over running the place. She’s worked there about six months, and even though she’s not a smoker, she thinks the new law enforcement efforts are shameful.

"I feel bad for the smokers," she said. "They’re the ones being discriminated against."

Sproles said she hasn’t noticed any surveillance outside her store, which is just over the state line and sells tobacco products primarily, but she also says she hasn’t noticed Tennessee customers buying in bulk.

"Most people don’t have the money to buy bulk," she said. "A guy came in here today to buy two cartons, which was $40.14, and he only had $40."

"I didn’t even know there was a problem with it," she said of Tennessee folks buying smokes in Virginia. "I can see where it would be tempting, but it doesn’t really happen."

After a little more than an hour on Saturday afternoon, most customers came in to buy three or four packs. Everyone said the new efforts to monitor sales seemed over-the-top.

"It’s wrong, they shouldn’t be telling people where to spend their money," said David Sheffler, 18. "I live on the Virginia side, but my girlfriend’s mom lives in Tennessee and she comes over here to buy cigarettes."

"It’s just ridiculous what they’re charging over there," said Pam Harbin, who’d come from Tennessee.

Harbin and her husband were one of two couples who came in to buy a few cartons of cigarettes.

"You can buy a carton of cigarettes over here for $10 less," she said.

Another couple, the Fagans, did the same as the Harbins, "We come in every two weeks and buy two cartons," said Shirley Fagan, who lives in Bristol Tennessee.

Sproles said the cigarette business is getting "harder and harder." She said many of the smaller tobacco companies have had to shut down because they can’t afford the state taxes imposed upon them, and even the retailers are struggling.

As for being charged with a felony or a misdemeanor for buying smokes in Virginia, David Sheffler seemed to sum up everyone’s feeling best. "It sucks," he said.