Clerks Cited In Tobacco Sting

Store clerks at three local businesses that sell tobacco products were cited with infractions on February 15, as state and local officials conducted a tobacco sting operation that used underage agents seeking to make illegal tobacco purchases.

The three store clerks, who police did not identify, were charged with illegal sale of tobacco. The charge is a state consumer protection violation that carries a $200 fine that is payable by mail. Such violations are appealable in court.

Issued the infractions were store clerks at the Citgo Friendly Service Station at 151 South Main St; Yankee Discount Wine and Liquors at Newtown Shopping Village at 6 Queen St, and Newtown Mobil at 62 Church Hill Rd, according to police.

Undercover agents from the state’s Tobacco Prevention and Enforcement Program made unannounced visits to 20 local businesses that sell tobacco in seeking to make illegal tobacco purchases. Youths who are age 16, who are employed by the state agency, seek to make the undercover purchases. The minimum legal age to buy tobacco in Connecticut is 18.

In 17 of the 20 tobacco-sales locations visited, clerks refused to sell tobacco products to the undercover agents.

After a store clerk has illegally sold tobacco to an underage youth, a town police officer appears on the scene to issue the offender an infraction ticket.