Location: Tulare, Visalia

Incident Date: 11-21-18

Case Number: 18-14872

City: Tulare, Visalia

Posted by: Media Relations

Grant Helps TCSO Detectives Crack Down on Tobacco Sales to Kids

    

Deputies with the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office recently conducted a two-day Underage Decoy Tobacco Buy Operation, visiting 22 licensed tobacco retailers. Under the direct supervision of Law Enforcement Officers, the minor decoys were told to go into the stores and try to buy tobacco products. 

During the two-day operation, the suspects sold tobacco products to the decoys. The suspects were cited for Selling Tobacco to Minors and educated on California Tobacco Laws.  Tulare County Sheriff’s Office Deputies will continue to conduct these types of operations to reduce the availability of tobacco to minors.

The following stores were cited for Selling Tobacco to A Minor Under 21:

Tulare Finest Smoke Shop (569 W. Bardsley, Tulare)

Doc’s Corner (14002 AVENUE 232, Tulare)

Am/Pm Convenience Store (9017 E. Crowley, Visalia) 

In collaboration with the Department of Justice, the Tulare County Sheriff's Office is conducting retailer Tobacco compliance checks to educate store owners and reduce the availability of tobacco products to minors throughout rural communities of Tulare County. Statistics have shown that youth tobacco use in Tulare County is above average at 15.4%, when compared to California’s 13.8%.

This project is being made possible by the Department of Justice Tobacco Grant (STAKE - Stop Tobacco Access To Kids) and Proposition 56 funding, which taxes tobacco and e-cigarettes sales $2.87 per pack.

The cases are currently under investigation. Anyone with information is encouraged to call the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office at (559)733-6218 or send anonymous information by sending a text or email to TCSO@tipnow.com or call 1-800-TIPNOW.