Sheriff’s Office cites retailers for selling tobacco to minors
Tobacco sting held during Halloween week
– During Halloween week, the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office, in partnership with the county’s Tobacco Control Program, conducted minor decoy operations across unincorporated areas of the county.
The operations resulted in three of 45 retail establishments being cited for selling tobacco products to a minor in violation of California Penal Code 308(a). Under state law, a minor is defined as anyone under 21, the legal age to purchase tobacco or alcohol products.
“These operations play a critical role in reinforcing laws designed to protect our youth from the dangers of nicotine addiction,” said Sgt. Rory Linn of the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office. “We’ve found that consistent enforcement helps reduce illegal tobacco sales to minors over time.”
During the operation, minor decoys, individuals under 21 years old, attempted to purchase tobacco products under the direct supervision of the sheriff’s compliance deputies. Minor decoys were able to purchase tobacco products at three retail locations.
“The goal of these ongoing joint efforts is to reduce youth access to addictive tobacco products, promote community health, and ensure retailers comply with state and local laws, said Maria Bautista, Health Educator with SLO County Public Health’s Tobacco Control Program. “It is alarming that locally, 61% of 11th graders report that it is easy or fairly easy to obtain vapes—also known as electronic smoking devices—according to the 2023–24 California Healthy Kids Survey.”
Retail clerks who sell tobacco to a minor face misdemeanor charges and fines ranging from $200 to $1,000 under California Penal Code 308(a). In addition, business owners may be cited for a county code violation, which carries a $1,000 fine and potential suspension or revocation of their business license, depending on prior violations.
