Affixing of stamps by distributors

Except as provided in section 453A.17, every distributor holding an Iowa permit shall cause to be affixed, within or without the state of Iowa, upon every individual package of cigarettes received by the distributor in this state or for distribution in this state, upon which no sufficient tax stamp is already affixed, a stamp or stamps of an amount equal to the tax due thereon. Such stamps shall be affixed within forty-eight hours, exclusive of a Sunday or a holiday, from the hour the cigarettes were received, and shall be affixed before such distributor sells, offers for sale, consumes, or otherwise distributes or transports the same. It shall be unlawful for any person, other than a distributing agent or distributor, bonded pursuant to section 453A.14, or common carrier to receive or accept delivery of any cigarettes without stamps affixed to evidence the payment of the tax, or without having in possession the requisite amount or number of stamps necessary to stamp such cigarettes, and the possession of any unstamped cigarettes, without the possession of the requisite amount or number of stamps, shall be prima facie evidence of the violation of this provision. As used in this section, “holiday” means the same as defined in section 421.9A.