Longview Stores Busted For Selling Tobacco To Minors

Source from:  tylerpaper.com 04/09/2008

LONGVIEW - Retailers willing to sell tobacco to minors beware. The Longview Police Depart-ment conducted a one-day sting on Saturday to apprehend businesses who will sell tobacco products to a person younger than 18-years-old, and they are not yet done conducting stings. Thirteen out of the 66 retail locations hit during the sting on Saturday were issued a citation. "State law requires retailers to ask for valid photo identification from any person wanting to buy tobacco products who looks younger than 27 years of age," Sgt. Shaun Pendleton with the Longview Police Department said. The Longview Police Department has checked nearly 400 retailers this year for compliance. "We will periodically operate these stings at unannounced times and we strongly advise all tobacco retailers to comply with the state law," Pendleton said. Enditem