Five Fridley Retailers Fail Tobacco-Sales Compliance Check

Five of 23 retail businesses in Fridley failed recent tobacco-sales compliance checks, according to the Fridley Police Department.

The businesses are:

• Holiday, 200 57th Ave. NE
• Holiday, 7295 University Ave. NE
• Fridley Liquor #3, 248 57th Ave. NE
• BP gas station, 6485 E. River Rd.
• Riverboat Food and Fuel, 7883 E. River Rd.

Those stores sold tobacoo products to a minor on Sept. 25, 2012, police said.

Related:

• All 21 Alcohol Retailers in Fridley Pass Compliance Check (Feb. 23, 2012)
• Fridley Alcohol-sales Compliance Check Coming (Jan. 31, 2012)
• (Oct. 17, 2011)

Here is the Fridley Code on tobacco sales violations.

12.09. VIOLATIONS
A. Administrative Civil Penalties: Individuals. Any person who sells any tobacco product to a person under the age of 18 years is subject to an administrative penalty: and any person under the age of 18 who attempts to purchase a tobacco product is subject to an administrative penalty. The administrative penalties are as follows:

• First violation. The penalty for the first violation is $250.00.
• Second violation within 12 months. The penalty for the second violation is $500.00.
• Third violation within 12 months. The penalty for the third violation is $750.00.

B. Administrative Civil Penalties; Licensee. If a licensee or an employee of a licensee is found to have sold tobacco to a person under the age of 18 years, the licensee shall be subject to an administrative penalty as follows:

• First violation. The penalty for the first violation is $500.00 If the fine is not paid within 20 days the City may suspend the license to sell tobacco products for a period not to exceed 10 days
• Second violation within 12 months. The penalty for the second violation is $1000.00. If the fine is not paid within 20 days the City may suspend the license to sell tobacco products for a period not to exceed 30 days.
• Third violation within 12 months. The city may permanently revoke the tobacco license.