13 citations issued for selling vapes to underage customers

These places are making the bulk of their money off of juveniles. It’s something I am absolutely furious about.”

Sheriff Steve Page

 White County Sheriff’s Office recently conducted an undercover operation in which they found 11 stores selling vaping products to underage consumers.

According to Sheriff Steve Page, there were 13 instances across 11 stores in White County in which a clerk sold vaping products to a customer who did not have proof of age and was, in fact, under the legal age of 21.

“These places are making the bulk of their money off of juveniles,” Page said. “It’s something I am absolutely furious about.”

Justin Cunningham, of White County Sheriff’s Office, was in charge of the undercover operation which took place from Dec. 19 to Jan. 14. Cunningham said that, in December, he took a male under the age of 21 to various stores in Sparta and White County and then conducted the operation again in January with a female who was, again, under the legal age to purchase smoking products.

According to Cunningham, he would have the individual, wearing a body cam, go into the store and ask for vaping products. They would tell the clerk they didn’t have their ID with them and would offer a date of birth with a year that would put them over the legal age. While, legally, the clerk is required to refuse the sale, on 13 occasions, the individual was allowed to make the purchase and leave the store with the product.

Page said citations were issued. The penalty is $500 for a first offense and $1,000 for a second, and there were both varieties issued after the camera footage was reviewed and the persons making the sales were identified. According to the sheriff, the citations are written to the clerk and not to the store, and there is no legal repercussion they can take against the store, its owners, or managers themselves.

The locations in which purchases were made by underage individuals during the operation are as follows:

• 111 Smoke and Vape
• Smokey tobacco and Vape
• U Vape and more
• Evolve Smoke Shop
• Sparta Market
• Smoke Shop – 2 violations
• Dixie Mart – 2 violations
• Keith’s Market
• Highway 70 Market
• Big T’s Market
• EZ Food Mart

“This has to stop,” Page said, adding that he has a call in to the Mayor Jerry Lowery to see if there are any ordinances that can be reviewed that would aid in holding additional parties responsible for locations that are habitual offenders. “One way or another, this has to stop.”