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1,080 NC clerks caught selling tobacco to minors

Submitted by WWAY on Tue, 02/03/2009 - 1:06pm.READ MORE:
RALEIGH -- North Carolina's Division of Alcohol Law Enforcement cited more than 1,000 store clerks last year for selling tobacco or tobacco products to a minor. The division said Tuesday that its agents conducted almost 6,600 unannounced tobacco compliance checks in North Carolina in 2008, and store clerks were cited in 95 of the state's 100 counties. Violators can be fined up to $1,000 or ordered to perform up to 30 days of community service. If a store clerk has prior convictions, he or she could face jail time. Division Director Bill Chandler says most store clerks properly check identification cards and refuse to sell tobacco to minors. But he says "some clerks found out last year the penalties can be severe." The division is part of the state Department of Crime Control and Public Safety. (Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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ID

Submitted by Guest555 (not verified) on Wed, 02/04/2009 - 7:31am.
I worked at a gas station/grocery store and I would ID alot of people. NC has a border around their picture that helps. Green their of age, yellow they can only buy cig, and red the are underage. After looking at that you can go to the date
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Shame

Submitted by tseug (not verified) on Tue, 02/03/2009 - 4:40pm.
This is a shame. My husband was caught up in this about a year ago. He worked a second job to pay for our expenses and a girl came in and she was just shy of being 18 purchased cigarettes, he didn't look too closely at her ID and as soon as she walked out the ATF walked in. It was like he was set up so they could get heavy fines from us. Thankfully a friend of ours was dating an attorney and we were fortunate to have this dropped from his record. Seems like we could use our officers for more impt investigations as opposed to digging up fines from people trying to make an honest living.
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ATF

Submitted by charle (not verified) on Tue, 02/03/2009 - 8:42pm.
Thats his job to to make sure that they are olded enough to buy tobacco products,its just like any other job, you have to cross your t's and dot your i's.
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Shame?

Submitted by Guest23453 (not verified) on Tue, 02/03/2009 - 8:20pm.
Why is it a shame? It is his responsability to check the id's closely, not just glance at it. He should have been fined for what he did and not just let off the hook. The cost of treating tobacco related illness is extremely high and the last thing we need is a lax clerk who makes it easier for kids to get tobacco. To try to blame the ATF or whoever did the sting is irresposible on your part. He needs to take responsibility for his actions and not find blame in others. Well then again that is our society.
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shame

Submitted by tom (not verified) on Tue, 02/03/2009 - 7:34pm.
how many cases of lung cancer does it take to wake up and means that can be thougth of to keep childern from starting to smoke is a good idea to me thanks
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I am against smoking in

Submitted by Guest666 (not verified) on Tue, 02/03/2009 - 7:12pm.
I am against smoking in general, but I don't believe store clerks should have to act as law enforcement. If a kid gets caught buying tobacco under 18, the parents should face a stiff fine for child endangerment. Parents are ultimately responsible for their minor children. It is about time that they lived up to their responsibilities.
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