NEWS RELEASE
DATE: October 18, 2024
SUBJECT: Minor Decoy Tobacco Operation
LOCATION: Citywide, Oxnard
SUSPECT: Tobacco Retail Outlets
CONTACT: Steven Ramirez II, Corporal
(805) 385-3920 (Mon-Fri 8AM-6PM) | steven.ramirez@oxnardpd.org
On October 18, 2024, officers from the Oxnard Police Department conducted tobacco decoy stings, using underage decoys, to purchase tobacco products at retail establishments in the city of Oxnard. During the operation, nine businesses were visited and none sold tobacco products to the underage decoys.
The goal of the operation is to limit underage access to tobacco products and confirm businesses are operating within the law. California Penal Code Section 308(a) prohibits the sale of tobacco and tobacco paraphernalia, including electronic cigarettes, to persons under the age of 21. Clerks who sell to an underage decoy face a minimum fine of $200 for a first offense, it becomes a $500 fine for a second offense, and $1,000 for a third offense.
A minor decoy operation involves a person under the age of 21 years old who enters establishments and attempts to purchase tobacco. The minor decoy appears young, provides identification when asked, and makes no attempts to mislead the seller. The decoy is supervised by peace officers during the entire process.
The Tobacco Compliance Inspections are funded by the California Department of Justice. Funding for the Tobacco Grant Program was a result of the passage of the California Healthcare, Research and Prevention Tobacco Tax Act of 2016 (Prop. 56) increasing taxes on cigarettes and other tobacco products by $2.00 starting in April 2017. The initiative allocates a portion of annual revenue to the California Department of Justice. https://oag.ca.gov/tobaccogrants.
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