Retailers Fined for Selling Tobacco to Minors

Source from:  October 9, 2007 stargazettenews.com Star-Gazette 10/11/2007

The Chemung County Health Department announced today that two local tobacco vendors sold tobacco to a minor during routine compliance checks. Prem's Mobil, 639 W. Church Street in Elmira, was fined $1,050, and Minier's Market, 84 Canal Street in Big Flats, was fined $350 for the offenses. New York State law prohibits the sale of tobacco to anyone less than 18 years old. Prem's Mobil was issued a Stipulation Offer and declined that option. A hearing was held on Sept. 6 and the case presented to the Board of Health where a fine was ordered against the facility. Minier's Market accepted a Stipulation Offer that included a lesser penalty than could have been imposed and the respondent has since paid the associated penalties. According to Thomas G. Kump, Director of Environmental Health for the Chemung County Health Department, compliance checks are conducted at least annually at every tobacco retailer in Chemung County. Facilities with points on their record will experience three unannounced compliance checks per year. Anyone with questions about the tobacco sale laws can contact Kump at the Chemung County Health Department at (607) 737-2019 or visit their Web site at www.chemungcountyhealth.org. Enditem