4 South Bay Businesses Cited for Selling Cigarettes to Minors

GILROY, CA -- Workers at four local businesses were cited by police during a sting operation recently after they failed to stop minors from buying cigarettes, authorities say.

On Feb. 15, the Gilroy Police Department revealed that earlier this month, it conducted a covert operation for the purpose of ensuring compliance with current tobacco sales regulations by local businesses. With assistance from the Santa Clara County Department of Public Health, GPD detectives were able to conduct a sting operation along the First Street corridor, visiting each business along that route that sells tobacco products.

During the Feb. 4 sting operation, 16 businesses were contacted along First Street between Kelton Drive and Church Street. Of those 16 businesses, 12 prevented an undercover minor under the age of 21, from buying tobacco products.

The other four businesses, however, had individual employees who sold the tobacco products to the undercover minor. They were issued misdemeanor citations for violating California Penal Code Section 308(a) (1) -Furnishing tobacco products to a minor (under 21).

The Gilroy Police Department says it plans to periodically conduct future sting operations related to the underage sales of tobacco and alcohol.

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