KDSN RADIO News
Denison PD Looking to Keep Tobacco Products Away From Youth
The Denison Police Department is participating in a program to keep tobacco, alternative nicotine, and vapor products out of the hands of underage people. Chief Brandon Rinnan says Denison Police Department is looking out for local youth.
“We know the impact that nicotine and tobacco have on the youth and it is important for us to try to get ahead of that and steer that in a different way and make sure our sales to youth is non-existent.”
I-PLEDGE is a partnership with the Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division (ABD) to educate local retailers and enforce Iowa’s laws related to those products.
Clerks who successfully complete an online training course and pass an exam will become certified. Rinnan says officers will be conducting compliance checks on local stores but says handing out citations is not the goal of the program.
“Within the next couple of months we’ll be more active in checking with clerks and establishments… as long as they properly follow how they were trained and still make an illegal sale they can use that training as a defense.”
Criminal penalties for selling tobacco, alternative nicotine, and vapor products to a minor include a $135 fine for a first offense, a $325 fine for a second offense, and a $645 fine for third and subsequent offenses. You can learn more about the I-PLEDGE program online at abd.iowa.gov.