A decoy customer visited eight Canton Township tobacco sellers last week and found that three were willing to sell to minors.
The decoy operation is part of an ongoing effort of the Canton Township Police Department to ensure local shops are compliant with the laws concerning the sale of tobacco. The minimum age to purchase tobacco in the State of Michigan was increased in 2021 from 18 to 21.
The three shops who sold tobacco or vapes to the police decoy include Sweet Fire Tobacco, 1735 S. Haggerty Road; Wild Bills Tobacco, 5820 N. Sheldon Road and King Tobacco, 44279 Ford Road.
The five stores where the decoy was refused were Vape N Chase, 8489 N. Lilley Road; Lilley's Smoke Shop, 42075 Ford Road; Cloudz Smoke Shop, 44942 Ford Road; Inline Vape, 44926 Ford Road and Smoke Ology, 125 N. Haggerty Road, according to police reports.
"The Canton Police Department conducts random compliance checks throughout the community with officers utilizing a 'zero tolerance' enforcement strategy when dealing with violations of alcohol, tobacco, and vape sales to minors. Establishments selling to a minor receive a misdemeanor citation. Alcohol violations are also reported to the State of Michigan's Liquor Control Commission," Canton police said in a prepared statement.
Penalties for selling tobacco to those younger than 21 include fines up to $100 for the first offense, up to $500 for the second offense, and up to $2,500 for third and subsequent offenses. Violators receive a misdemeanor citation, police said.
