The Coachella Community Action Team (CCAT) conducted a sting operation on Friday to crack down on illegal sales of tobacco products, particularly to minors.
The operation consisted of “decoys” who were under the legal age to purchase tobacco and approached businesses to see if they obeyed the law.
"During the operation, decoys, who were not of the legal age to purchase tobacco, were sent into approximately eight businesses who sold tobacco products and attempted to purchase tobacco," Deputy Sgt. Mariano Matos III of the Riverside County Sheriff's Department said in a release.
Three out of eight businesses allegedly sold tobacco products to the decoys, and for that, they received citations, Matos said in a release.
The three businesses were identified in the release as M Market, Valley Meat Market and Alpha Smoke Shop. These businesses were issued citations for “selling underage persons tobacco products,” according to the release. The report sheds no light on whether these were first citations.
This sting operation was held in conjunction with the City of Coachella's recent receipt of funds from the Tobacco Grant Program, Sgt. Matos said. According to California’s Department of Justice, this program provides funds to assist in the enforcement of local and state laws against selling and marketing tobacco products to minors. Established in 2017, the Tobacco Grant Program has distributed approximately $124 million in funding to 260 grantees.
According to the California Association of Retail Tobacconists (C.A.R.T.), a first violation regarding tobacco sales to minors amounts to a penalty of $400-$600. Meanwhile, a second violation results in a penalty of $900-$1,000. While third and fourth violations also mean higher fees, there is the added penalty of temporary suspension of the retailer’s license. A fifth violation brings the highest fees– $5,000 to $6,000 – and a permanent revocation of the license.
However, these violations only stack if they take place within a five-year period.