Ventura County Sheriff Department – Incident Press Release
On 04/26/19, members of the Thousand Oaks Police Department’s Directed Enforcement Unit and Ventura County Public Health conducted tobacco stings, using under age decoys, in an attempt to purchase tobacco products at retail establishments in the City of Thousand Oaks and surrounding area. Two cashiers were cited for selling tobacco products to customers under the age of 21. The goal of this operation is to limit under age access to tobacco products and confirm local businesses are operating within the law.
Beginning June 9, 2016, a new law signed by Governor Jerry Brown, went into effect raising the minimum age of sale for tobacco products from 18 to 21, except for active duty military personnel in the U.S. Armed Forces. Electronic smoking devices are included in the definition of tobacco products.
The underage decoys attempted to make purchases of tobacco products at 14 locations throughout the Thousand Oaks area. Cashiers at 12 of the establishments turned the decoy away without selling any tobacco products.
In an ongoing effort to prevent access tobacco products by those under the age of 21, members of the Directed Enforcement Unit and Ventura County Public Health will continue to conduct periodic sting operations dealing with tobacco to confirm retailers in the area are doing their part to prevent minors’ access to tobacco products.
All of the suspects that sold tobacco products to the minor decoy were cited for PC 308(a)(1). The Thousand Oaks Police Department would like to thank the other 12 businesses that did not sell tobacco products to the underage decoys.
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Why do the headlines only address this occurred in Thousand Oaks? It happened in Oak Park too. Your publication is not the only news publication published headlines stating Thousand Oaks. Barbara Spinsler
Because we’re all merely publishing police reports. Thanks for the clarification.