By Shari Kaplan
As part of its first "Tobacco Decoy" sting operation, the Los Gatos Police Department issued misdemeanor citations March 21 to three local store clerks for selling tobacco products to minors.
The employees cited work for the Chevron station at 700 Blossom Hill Road, Pacific Wines and Liquors at 410 N. Santa Cruz Ave. and Jiffy Market at 15665 Los Gatos Blvd., respectively.
The purpose of the sting is to discourage the unlawful sale of tobacco and tobacco-related products to consumers under the age of 18. To give businesses a chance to comply before the sting began, Police Chief Larry Todd mailed letters to all town businesses licensed to sell tobacco products on their premises, asking them to encourage employees' diligence in asking customers for proper I.D.
The underage decoys, who had parental permission to take part in the sting, were members of Los Gatos High School's "Friday Night Live" program, which emphasizes fun and healthy leisure activities as an alternative to substance abuse.
Police trained the student volunteers in the procedures used in the sting; an officer was always nearby as students attempted to make purchases. The students visited a total of 33 Los Gatos businesses.
David Wilce, manager at Pacific Wines and Liquors, said in the case of their citation, the employee clearly slipped up, in spite of training. "The sting brings home the fact that thinking someone is old enough isn't good enough." At the Chevron station, magagement said the cited employee was on his first day as a trainee. The Jiffy Mart employee said he thought he had checked the customer's I.D. in the past and recalled that she was of age.
This article appeared in the Los Gatos Weekly-Times, April 10, 1996.
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