Location: Pixley, Ivanhoe
Incident Date: 12-5-18
City: Pixley, Ivanhoe
Posted by: Media Relations
Deputies with the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office conducted 18 Tobacco compliance inspections on December 5th, 2018 in the Pixley Area.
In total, deputies found 1 business did not have its STAKE sign clearly visible, 3 did not have their tobacco license posted and 4 had an expired license. All of these businesses were in violation of the Stop Tobacco Access to Kids Act. Businesses out of compliance were given verbal warnings and educated on the STAKE Act and the current tobacco laws. Failure to comply with the current laws may include a fine as low as $200 and as high as $5,000. Retailers can also have their tobacco license suspended or permanently revoked.
Follow-up inspections were also conducted in the Ivanhoe area at 2 businesses that were previously issued warnings and educated on the STAKE Act. Out of the 2 businesses, 1, the Carneceria Gonzalez on Ave 328, failed to come into compliance by posting their valid Tobacco License and was issued a citation.
Tulare County Sheriff’s Office Deputies will continue conducting these types of detail compliance checks to reduce the availability of tobacco to minors.
The Tulare County Sheriff Office, in collaboration with the Department of Justice, are conducting retailor Tobacco compliance checks to educate retailers and reduce the availability of tobacco products to minors throughout rural communities in 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, funded by the California Healthcare, Research and Prevention Tobacco Tax Act of 2016 (the “Act”), approved by the voters as Proposition 56.
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.