Montgomery Police Tobacco Sting Nets One

Montgomery police conducted a sting operation May 31 to see if any of its 14 licensed tobacco dealers would sell to an underage customer. Only one of them did, police said.

For this operation, police used "youth agents" posing as customers and attempting to buy tobacco. If the retail shop employees asked for ID, and then refused to sell to someone underage, they passed the test.

Only one of the 14 stores tested—the Smoke Plus, 2079 Orchard Road—failed the test by selling tobacco to the underage agent, police said. The violation will be handled by the Village President, who also serves as the Village Liquor Commissioner. No charges will be filed against the employee, police said.

It is illegal to sell tobacco to anyone under 18. The sting was conducted via the state’s Kids Can’t Buy ‘Em Here program, administered by (and with the help of a grant from) the Illinois Liquor Control Commission.

Under state law, first offenders face a $200 fine, second offenders within one year a $400 fine, and third offenders within one year a $600 fine. State law allows the village of Montgomery to keep half of the fines collected.