9 Longview retailers sell tobacco to minors during sting - KLTV.com-Tyler, Longview, Jacksonville, Texas | ETX News

9 Longview retailers sell tobacco to minors during sting

Posted: Updated:

Released by The Longview Police Department:

Nine Longview businesses were busted for selling tobacco products to minors during an undercover sting by Longview Police.

During the month of August, 2012, the Longview Police Department conducted tobacco stings to test the compliance of Longview area tobacco retailers in regards to Texas tobacco laws.

The undercover stings utilized 14-16 year old minors, accompanied by Longview Police Officers, who entered stores and attempted to purchase tobacco products. The stings are funded through a grant issued by the Texas Comptroller's Office.

The Texas Health and Safety Code states that it is unlawful for a person to sell, give or cause to be sold or given a cigarette or tobacco product to someone who is younger than 18 years of age. A violation of this statute is punishable as a class C misdemeanor and the fine is over $500.00.

Undercover tobacco and alcohol stings have proven to be an effective means of protecting Longview youth by encouraging compliance with Texas laws and will continue on a random basis in the future.

Citations were issued to the clerk at each location that sold tobacco to the undercover minor and the clerk will have to appear at the Longview Municipal Court to resolve the citation.
The undercover officer/minor teams went to 156 Longview area tobacco retailers during three separate sting operations. 9 of these tobacco retailers sold tobacco products to the undercover minors, with two stores selling to minors twice.

The locations that sold tobacco products to minors include:

Nice Way 800 Pine Tree Rd.
Tejas Super Mart 1822 Pine Tree Rd.
Brianna's Stop n Shop (Texaco) 3122 Estes Pkwy 2 times
J&B Food Mart 1600 S Green St.
Road Runner 1917 Judson Rd.
Rudy's #16 128 W Marshall Ave
Food Fast #1073 3357 Gilmer Rd.
Kyle's 1401 Judson Rd. 2 times

Tobacco Station #22 3541 Gilmer Rd.
(Longview Police originally reported the business as Tabacco Junction, but that was a mistake and they have corrected that error.)