Reporting
Violations of Utah Youth
Access Tobacco Laws
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| Why
You Need to Get Involved |
The
laws mentioned below primarily relate to preventing underage
access to tobacco. The need to curtail underage sales
of tobacco to youth is supported by research that shows
60% of adult tobacco users begin by age 14 and 90% of
adult tobacco users begin using by age 19.
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Historically,
the main source of tobacco for underage youth has been
retail outlets. In 1999 Utah's illegal underage sale
rate for tobacco was 16.3%. In simpler terms, these
figures indicate that youth can successfully buy tobacco
from approximately one out of every six outlets. In
some
communities the rate is lower, in others significantly
higher.
Utah
law enforcement agencies have been supportive of efforts
to educate retailers, youth, and communities about the
need to reduce youth access to tobacco. But increasingly
tight budgets and other community needs compete for
law enforcement resources.
That's
where the community becomes critical to efforts to eliminate
illegal underage sales and use of tobacco. By working
with local health departments, law enforcement agencies,
schools, retailers, and community groups to prevent
and control underage tobacco use, you can help.
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| Who
Enforces Utah Tobacco Laws? |
| The
following select list of laws represents most tobacco-related
laws enforced by local law enforcement agencies. Please
note that Utah Code 26-42-1 to 7 and 59-14-201 are enforced
by local health departments and the Utah State Tax Commission.
For a complete listing of laws, users
of this site are encouraged to
refer to the Utah Code and the Utah Administrative Rules.
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| A
select listing of youth access
laws is available for reference on this web site.
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| How
to Get Involved |
There
are several ways you can become involved. They include:
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Complimenting
retailers who refuse underage tobacco sales when
you observe them doing it. |
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Contacting
store managers to report sales by clerks to youth who
appear younger than 19 years of age.
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Supporting
local community efforts to recognize retail outlets
that make extra efforts to eliminate illegal underage
sales to youth.
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Supporting
local community efforts to recognize retail outlets
that make extra efforts to eliminate illegal underage
sales to youth.
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| How
to Make a Report |
If
you make a report to your local law enforcement agency,
please
be prepared to supply the following information: |
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The
name and address of the business or building.
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The
day(s) and time(s) when you observed the sale(s).
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A
detailed description of the person allegedly making an
illegal sale, including the
person's name if they are wearing a name badge. |
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A
brief description of what you saw happen.
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Your
local law enforcement officials can identify other information
they may need when you contact them.
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| What
Happens When A Report is Received? |
Reports
about criminal violations are dealt with at the local
law enforcement level. Once a report is received,
the local law enforcement agency has several options including:
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Discussing
the report with local retailers and encouraging them to
train their employees |
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Increasing
their presence in the area to discourage underage youth
from attempting to
buy tobacco, |
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Conducting
an underage compliance check to determine if a retail
outlet is in compliance
with the law. |
If a violation of sales laws is found, the individual
who makes the illegal underage sale is typically issued
a citation and must appear in court. Possible fines
and jail time, if any are listed below. Non-sale related
laws, such as those related to advertising, also can
result in a person being issued a citation and having
to appear in court. In the case of illegal underage
sales of tobacco to youth, store licensees are also
subject to civil monetary and license revocation action
by local health departments and the Utah State Tax Commission
respectively.
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| Who
To Contact |
| If
you live in a city or other incorporated area, contact
your local police department. There phone number is typically
found in the government section of telephone directories.
In some cases they may also be found in the business section
of telephone directories.
If you live in an unincorporated area
within a county, contact the county sheriff's office.
For local health department contacts
you can refer to our resource
directory.
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| For
More Information |
Contact
the Tobacco Prevention and Control Program, Utah Department
of Health
Telephone: 1-877-220-3466 or (801) 538-6260
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