Tobacco enforcement
Goal: To prevent anyone under 18 from smoking and using tobacco products.
Participants: Berks County Council on Chemical Abuse, police and sheriff’s deputies.
Funding: $43,000 a year from state Department of Health.
Number of checks: 450 stores, each checked three times a year.
How it works
• Adults go with youths ages 15 to 17 to stores to buy tobacco.
• Clerks are required to ask for identification if the customer looks under 25.
• If the clerk does not sell to a minor, the store will receive a letter 30 days later informing the store of the check.
• If the clerk sells to a minor, the store and the clerk are cited.
• The clerk is notified to contact the district justice within 10 days to determine the amount of the fine.
• The clerk and store can pay the fine or request a hearing.
Penalties
First offense
Clerk: $100 to $250
Retailer: $100 to $500
Second offense
Clerk: $250 to $500
Retailer: $500 to $1,000
Third offense
Clerk: $500 to $1,000
Retailer: $3,000 to $5,000
Results
Sales rate to minors of stores checked
July 2006 to June 2007: 6 percent
July 2007 to June 2008: 5 percent
July 2008 to June 2009: 6 percent
Retailers who sold tobacco to minors
July 2006 to June 2007: 109
July 2007 to June 2008: 72
July 2008 to June 2009: 74
Retailers in compliance
July 2006 to June 2007: 1,632
July 2007 to June 2008: 1,312
July 2008 to June 2009: 1, 217
Source: Pennsylvania state law, Berks County Council on Chemical Abuse
