Salinas considers controversial tobacco ordinance to halt underage smoking

A passionate debate over preventing cigarettes from ending up in the hands of minors will continue in January for the Salinas City Council. While council members agree kids shouldn’t be smoking, a new law being proposed is putting them at odds on how to tackle the problem.

Stores selling tobacco products told NewsChannel 5 the city may be unfairly targeting small businesses. Several shop workers said there’s just not enough incentive to sell cigarettes illegally.

“For the fine that you’re levied if your caught, it’s just not worth it,” said Mark Youtsey.

With the average cost of a pack of cigarettes running about $5.50 and most of the profit going to the tobacco industry, shop owners said those who are selling to minors, are probably doing it by mistake. They say fake ID’s are a big problem and sometimes a clerk may forget to ask for proof.

Salinas is looking at a new ordinance, which would require 135 stores in the city, to pay $286 a year for a license to sell tobacco products.

“I mean they have to put the consequences on the people that are doing it. But for everyone else to pay the consequences for what a few stores are doing and for some of the smaller businesses around here $250 makes a difference,” Youtsey said.

City leaders said the fee would allow the Monterey County Health Department to ramp up inspection efforts and levy fines for failing to comply. Sunrise House Prevention supports the effort saying 80 percent of adults who smoke started as teens and 35 percent turn into daily smokers by 18. Salinas police would be in charge of enforcing the law and that’s something stores doubt officers will have the time to do.

“There are times when law enforcement has been called and they’ve never even showed up. They are so far stretched thin that they do not have time to police someone selling cigarettes to minors,” Youtsey said.

Those who support the law, said the money for the license would go to the county to help pay for anti-tobacco education and decoy operations to catch shops selling illegally. The first fine for breaking the law would be $1,000 and the second time, it would be $5,000.