It may be easier for minors to get a pack of smokes after Iowa’s budget cuts.
State funds designated to help state law enforcement stamp out underage smoking sales could be slashed in the 10 percent across-the-board budget reduction, making it more difficult to monitor tobacco vendors.
Right now, Iowa’s 4,000 tobacco vendors are subject to two compliance checks every year. But law enforcement throughout the state, including Iowa City police, will only check tobacco establishments every other year because the state wouldn’t be able to reimburse officers.
“If there was no money to help subsidize the enforcement efforts, we’d have less enforcement,” said Iowa City police Sgt. Troy Kelsay.
He said that less enforcement is always a risk, but fewer checks wouldn’t be that alarming.
During this month’s most recent round of stings, all Iowa City vendors passed except for Casey’s General Store, 204 N. Dubuque St. There are 55 tobacco-permit holders in Iowa City.
While more checks are better for enforcement, the state has a tobacco compliance rate of 92 percent, said Alcoholic Beverages Division Administrator Lynn Walding.
During Iowa City stings, an underage patron — accompanied by plainclothes police officers — will try to buy tobacco products. If clerks are caught selling tobacco to the minor, they will receive tickets ranging from a $100 to $500, depending on whether they have previous infractions.
The establishment would also be fined and could potentially have its permit suspended or revoked.
But some clerks around town know how to spy these false patrons and when the stings are coming up.
“They do them like every six months, and it’s pretty easy to tell,” said Jake Ciancio, an employee at L&M Mighty Shop, 504 E. Burlington St. “They always get something with cash and always use an Iowa ID.”
He has experienced a sting before, and he said he didn’t fall for the ploy.
“The girl’s birthday was the next day,” he said. “They try to be tricky.”
Regardless, Ciancio doesn’t see the checks as a problem because employees always check IDs.
“I even carded someone born in 1928,” he said.
