SCPD works to keep vapes from kids
Jeremy McClure
Vapor devices or “vapes” come in various designs. Their popularity with kids has grown significantly over the years.
The Sioux City Police Department has seen a trend of increased nicotine alternative and vapor or “vapes” products among teens. Vapor products or “vapes” are electronic devices used to heat a liquid to an aerosol or vapor which is inhaled by the user.
Iowa law prohibits persons under the age of 18 from purchasing or possessing not only tobacco products but also nicotine alternatives and vapor products.
Between Jan. 1 and Dec. 1 of this year, 126 citations have been issued to teens for possessing tobacco, nicotine alternative, or vapor products. Of those citations, 104 have been for possessing vapor products used for vaping. Fines for underage possession of these products start at $50 for a first offense and increase up to $150 for subsequent offenses.
As part of an effort to keep these products from teens, the SCPD is participating in the Iowa Alcohol Beverage Division’s (ABD) I-PLEDGE initiative. The ABD created the initiative as an effort to get 100% compliance with Iowa’s laws on selling these products by retailers. ABD offers free training to retailers and their employees on preventing sells of tobacco, nicotine alternatives, and vapor products to minors.
In addition to the training, the SCPD is also in process of checking compliance with Iowa laws by retailers. Officers with the Special Investigations Unit will be sending people under 18 into stores to attempted to purchase these products. The teens are instructed to show their ID if requested and steps are taken to make no effort to mislead sales clerks. Should a clerk sell to a minor, they will be issued a citation fining them $100.
The goal of the checks is to obtain 100% compliance by retailers. The ABD reports that statewide, there is a 91% compliance rate.
Parents can also help in this effort by not allowing teens to purchase or possess vapor products or the pods and vape juices associated with them. We also encourage them to discuss the health risks associated with using these products to include addiction to nicotine.
Retailers interested in completing i-PLEDGE Retailer Certification can do so at the following link https://ipocp.iowaabd.com/portal.
Information to inform parent and help them talk to their kids about vaping can be found at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/basic_information/e-cigarettes/index.htm.
