NEWS RELEASE
DATE: March 01, 2025
SUBJECT: Minor Decoy Tobacco Operation
LOCATION: Citywide, Oxnard
SUSPECT: Tobacco Retail Outlets
CONTACT: Steven Ramirez II, Corporal
(805)385-3920 (Mon-Thurs 8am-6pm) | [email protected]
Oxnard Store Clerk Cited for Selling Tobacco Products to Minor Decoy
On March 01, 2025, officers from the Oxnard Police Department conducted tobacco decoy stings using an underage decoy to purchase tobacco products at retail establishments, in the city of Oxnard. During the operation eight businesses were visited and one of the store clerks sold the minor decoy tobacco products.
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 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.
DATE / TIME PREPARED: March 01, 2025 / 15:00 p.m.