Six Teaneck Retailers Sold Vape Products To Minors In Latest Sting: PD

TEANECK, NJ — Six Teaneck businesses were caught selling vape products to minors in the second sting operation conducted by police in the past year, officials said.

Each of the businesses allowed purchase of vape products to a person under the age of 21, in violation of New Jersey law, during a recent undercover operation, town police chief Andrew McGurr said Monday.

In addition, the establishments sold flavored vape products, which are unlawful to sell to anyone, regardless of age, McGurr said.

In July 2022, a separate investigation saw six stores sell vape / THC products to underaged persons, and subsequently charged the storeowners, Patch reported.

In this latest operation, police — the chief said — investigated 13 retail businesses after receiving complaints from residents, and the following six were found in violation:

• Best Stop, 540 Cedar Lane
• Rocklin's Stationary, 458 Cedar Lane
• Teaneck City Center, 1510 Teaneck Road
• $0.99 Treasure, 1416 Teaneck Road
• Exxon Gas Station, 228 Teaneck Road
• Mr. RJ Convenience, 1440 Queen Anne Road

As a result of the investigation, the owners of the six businesses were charged with sale of flavored vape products, maintaining a nuisance (a disorderly persons offense), and nuisances (in violation of a Teaneck ordinance).

A nuisance is "whatever is dangerous to, or renders a potential danger to human health," as defined in the town ordinance.

Best Stop and Mr. RJ Convenience were also named in the previous investigation for the same alleged offenses, Patch reported.

They, along with the four other aforementioned retailers, were served with copies of their respective complaint summonses, and scheduled for initial court appearances in May, chief McGurr said.

All 13 establishments recently investigated were provided with reference materials to educate them about the law, the chief added.