Very true but this will still have a non-zero effect. People who don't want to pay for the sugary stuff might also not want to travel out of the area to stock up on sugary drinks.

I grew up in a state with stricter fireworks laws than the one that we bordered but the border was a 6 hour drive away. Nobody I knew made the journey to get the good stuff.

> These taxes currently only drive purchases out of your jurisdiction

Or you can use it as an employment generation exercise by setting up checkpoints at state borders to avoid import from other states, applying a higher tax on fuel locally and making it illegal to bring more fuel into the state than you go out with. A few states in India have successfully implemented the first part for alcohol for instance, and I guess other countries should have the same. Even US has differing gun laws across states, so whatever mechanism is used to enforce those can be extended to enforce this

> Even US has differing gun laws across states, so whatever mechanism is used to enforce those can be extended to enforce this

Ah, so stopping minorities to shake them down for soda.

In all seriousness, you can't just set up border checkpoints in the US. You'd have to have probable cause to stop an individual, and even if you stopped everyone you can't search them without a warrant (which requires probably cause) or their permission.

It's already been happening for a long time - California has border checkpoints for fruit pests:

https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/plant/pe/ExteriorExclusion/borders.h...

Isnt checking for cross state border tax evasion considered probable cause? Just like how customs inspects packages coming from outside the country or even Americans returning from a foreign visit (Not an American, just curious.. since apparently this is a US specific behaviour)

> Isnt checking for cross state border tax evasion considered probable cause?

Nope. Probable cause is a specific legal standard in the US - the Wikipedia article gives a decent overview: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Probable_cause

In short, it requires a reasonable belief that a crime has been committed.

Interstate trading is under the federal government, not state government.

There is no active mechanism to enforce gun laws when crossing state lines (and there are often safe passage laws if you are just driving through without stopping), but you can be charged if you are pulled over for another reason and the police see an illegal gun in your car.

I imagine sugar tax enforcement would work similarly to the gun enforcement, not dedicated checkpoints for private cars (commercial trucks which already have checkpoints). You get pulled over for speeding, the police officer sees you have 18 cases of soda, and all of a sudden you get two fines.

Don't give any bright government worker wanting a promotion any ideas! I would hope the ACLU or some group would fight against internal checkpoints using the fourth amendment. Seems like ideas like this would be a good way to tear apart the US instead of uniting us... I think it's odd we live in a "United States" yet nothing is united when it comes to governing. Even states can't agree on tint laws.

A smaller government, consistent government and personal freedoms is what I support.

@olympus good point on the gun laws. New York is known for jailing and charging people with felonies. Even when they store the gun and ammo the way the TSA instructional video says to and checks it. https://youtu.be/3Xs_jrnmwoU - I wish the second amendment and full faith and credit clause was more respected. What part about "shall not be infringed" do they not understand?