Underage Vape, Tobacco Sales Net 21 Summonses in Howell

HOWELL, NJ — Howell Township police issued 21 violations to stores for selling nicotine and vaping products to someone underage and for illegal sales of flavored vapes, Howell officials said.

The police department made undercover sweeps on June 24 and on July 31, according to a news release from the Howell Alliance, which works to deter kids from using alcohol, drugs, tobacco and vaping products.

There were summonses for 15 first violations and six for second violations on the July 31 sweep, the municipal alliance said. The summonses were issued to convenience stores, gas stations, and smoke/vape shops, and carry a potential of up to $24,000 in fines, officials said.

The undercover operation involved the use of an underage police officer to purchase the items. The violations included:

• illegal underage nicotine product sales: 12 (4 are 2nd offenses)
• illegal flavored vape sales: 6 (2 are 2nd offenses)
• electronic smoking device retail license non-compliance: 3 (1 is a 2nd offense)
• most underage sales violations involved flavored, disposable vapes or Zyn nicotine pouches.

Some retailers sold illegal flavored vape products that were not readily accessible and/or viewable to customers upon entering the store. Several had been issued warning letters and summonses by John Aguiar, code enforcement officer, before the sting.

"This collaborative effort involving the various departments of Howell Township, to include the support of the governing body, clearly displays our steadfast commitment to providing a safe and nurturing environment for our youth,” Howell Capt. Tom Rizzo said. “Any industry or participants in activities, which serve to create profit for themselves, while knowingly violating statutes, laws, ordinances, etc., at the cost of negatively impacting our Township and those we protect/serve, can expect to be met with this same approach. We stand united in utilizing all of our resources on where it matters most: the preservation of our proud community.”

Disposable vape products with appealing flavors, colorful and sleek packaging, discreet designs, trendy names, youth-targeted marketing tactics, and high nicotine concentrates have fueled the nationwide teen and young adult vaping epidemic and nicotine addiction, despite 21 being the legal age to buy any tobacco or nicotine product.