Now
Partly Cloudy
85°
High
82°
Low
67°
Full Forecast

Jobs

Cars

Homes

Rentals

Alerts

Subscribe
Home > News > Local
Bookmark Us   •   Make Us Your Homepage

Police: Four clerks sold minors tobacco in check

Comments 41 comment(s)  
E-mail Story E-mail Story
Print Story Print Story
Share  Share
Text Size: 
Tools Sponsor

By the Lincoln Journal Star

Monday, May 12, 2008 - 02:22:17 pm CDT

Police say clerks at four Lincoln businesses sold tobacco to minors during a tobacco compliance check Thursday night.

Officers sent minors into 36 businesses to buy tobacco, Capt. Joy Citta said.

A clerk at the Kabredlo’s Convenience store off of 17th and A streets told a 17-year-old girl he would have to check her I.D. because police were doing compliance checks -- then he sold her tobacco anyway, Citta said.

Story Photo

Clerks also allegedly sold tobacco to 17-year-olds at U-Stop Convenience Shop, 27th Street and Interstate 80, and the Walgreens Drug Store at 1701 South St., Citta said.

A clerk at Fast Mart, 3293 A St., allegedly sold tobacco to a 15-year-old, Citta said.

The clerks were cited on suspicion of selling tobacco to minors, Citta said. The offense is a class 3 misdemeanor, which is punishable by up to three months in jail, a $500 fine or both.

The tobacco check was funded through a Health Department grant, she said.

So far this year, Lincoln police have done 176 tobacco compliance checks, Citta said. Of those, 22 clerks have sold to minors, for a total compliance rate of 87.5 percent.


$1 Sunday Delivery - Subscribe Today!
Local > Back to Top of Story

Post Your Comment

Standards and Rules
All posts to JournalStar.com are subject to our Terms and Standards.
Your posted comment will appear after it has been approved.
Frequently asked questions about story commenting.
(optional)
   
Hide Comments Hide Comments   Newest First Newest First  
Harland wrote on May 12, 2008 2:49 pm:
" Some of Lincoln's finest police work going on!!! "

 Card M. All wrote on May 12, 2008 2:50 pm:
" I worked in a convenience store years ago when I was a UNL undergrad. I carded everyone that didn't look at least 80 years old! They'd always try sending a hot-looking girl in to make you think with something besides your brain, but I carded them too. I think the middle-aged women actually dug being carded, because it meant they still looked farm-fresh. "

 Terry wrote on May 12, 2008 3:19 pm:
" Thank god our tax dollars and law enforcement resources are being used to protect us from this sort of evil. "

 Lydia wrote on May 12, 2008 3:20 pm:
" Ah the truth Card M. All....*sigh* I was carded the other day. I'm 31, then the lady apologized... "

 Who Cares wrote on May 12, 2008 3:35 pm:
" Give me a break. You have people flying through residential neighborhoods where children play, and this is what has priority? LPD is one of the worse. "

 Billy Bob wrote on May 12, 2008 3:36 pm:
" I wonder if 87.5 percent of all the polcie officers in Lincoln could say they haven't been around a minor who has smoke or drank? "

 Yes and NO..... wrote on May 12, 2008 3:38 pm:
" I am all for the Nebraska State Patrol or the Lincoln Police Department regulating the sale of tobacco to minors. HOWEVER, I worked PT at a sports bar in South Lincoln, and one morning before the bar even opened, a young man came into the bar and asked for $5.00 in quarters. I was cleaning and had to stop what I was doing to give this young man change. Adter I gave him the change, I went back to cleaning and assumed the young man would be leaving. Instead he walked down the stairs and dropped $4.75 into the ciggerate machine and then walked out the door. In less than 2 minutes a Deputy from the State Patrol ticketed me for selling ciggerettes to a minor. Tactics like this tend to put a bad taste in your mouth. I am a mother of two boys, so I understand the importance of the law and even more so the health impacts of smoking. I'm just saying that the way the busts are made are not always on the up and up to me. "

 People get all the info first wrote on May 12, 2008 3:45 pm:
" People why dont you have all the info instead of already discrediting the police. LPD does these on rant money that is supplied from different groups that support these types of actions. Your everyday Ofc isnt doing these stings. It is off-duty/overtime and is a choice to do or not to do. But again its a special funded ordeal paid for by private groups. So the 35cents you paid in taxes this year is still going to a good place. "

 Illegal is Illegal wrote on May 12, 2008 3:46 pm:
" What part of illegal do you not understand? They are breaking the law and should be prosecuted/persecuted. It is ironic that the same people who think these stings are worthless, want to cut off any benefits for "illegals" trying to better themselves. Are they both not breaking the law? "

 Nick wrote on May 12, 2008 3:59 pm:
" What a waste of time and tax money. I dont smoke or chew and if a 17 year old kid wants it bad enough they will get it by paying someone older for than them to buy it or they will steal it from their parents. Illegal or not there are worse activities going on in Lincoln that the LPD needs to focus on. "

 The info in the story says wrote on May 12, 2008 3:59 pm:
" "The tobacco check was funded through a Health Department grant." Where do you suppose the "Health Department" gets their money? The tax payers, that's where. Another abuse of the people by the government. How long are the citizens of this state going to put up with it? "

 JJ wrote on May 12, 2008 4:02 pm:
" So why can't LPD go to the high schools (like around LSE and such where I have read on this website recently that there are complaints) and ticket the kids standing around smoking in the nieghborhoods? I'm not complaining, just asking. I'm sure if the kids were holding a beer can they would get checked. "

 Grant wrote on May 12, 2008 4:17 pm:
" The HHS grant money probably came from the money the tobacco companies pay the state so therefore no tax money involved. If anyone has any proof to the contrary, please post your sources. "

 Dan wrote on May 12, 2008 4:17 pm:
" I used to work in a store that sold tobacco and every single day numerous minors tried to purchase cigarettes. Why don't the police ever set up in a tobacco store and bust the kids trying to buy? "

 godsofwrath wrote on May 12, 2008 4:28 pm:
" another example of government waste! they should be investigating the oil companies, thier the real crooks "

 year old wrote on May 12, 2008 4:29 pm:
" Thanks LJS for publishing everywhere I can buy smokes with no ID!!!!!

In all seriousness back in highschool I worked in a grocery store 3 years and carded not one person. To be fair though my main duty was a stock boy and I only did the register when we were swamped. Actually I take that back, I did card a couple people. Unfortunatly though the only people I carded were people that I was friends with and knew they were under 18 and I didn't want to be obvious. "

 L wrote on May 12, 2008 4:34 pm:
" There should be some sort of equipment in place at stores that sell tobacco and alcohol that scans that bar code on your ID to make it nearly impossible for minors to buy. Of course, the kids will eventually find a way around that too... "

 jo wrote on May 12, 2008 4:44 pm:
" I'm thinking all this whinning, is from the very same people who demanded we have a "smoking ban?" I think it's a great idea. Just having a chest xray done after smoking 20+ years (quit 2 1/2 yrs ago)I was scared to death. Kids don't always make good choices and they don't think how smoking will affect them 20yrs later. Keep up the good work! They'll be thankful someday-I hope? "

 Lisa wrote on May 12, 2008 4:50 pm:
" Sad to say I'm carded 99% for smokes, but about 10% for alcohol.
I'd rather see a 15-16 year old smoke and drive than drink and drive...

There are better things for police to do than stings, but I don't want to hear anything about kids smoking then. "

 Nina wrote on May 12, 2008 4:50 pm:
" Here's a novel and original (NOT!) approach: If you don't want to chance getting caught, don't do the deed. That works for drinking, smoking, sex, drugs, speeding, and the list goes on. It's up to you to decide which is the wise approach - being a risk-taker, or playing it safe. "

 Hmmm... wrote on May 12, 2008 5:26 pm:
" Excellent question Dan. There isn't a law that prohibits a minor purchasing tobacco. For everyone that so badly wants the minors to be cited for smoking it (which IS a law), I suggest you contact the City Attoney's Office. Last I checked, they weren't too excited about filing these citations (their case load is already bogged down as it is). "

 KS wrote on May 12, 2008 6:01 pm:
" Ya know, I would rather know the name and location of the gas stations that were cited for cheating their customers by selling lower quality gasoline for the higher quality price, than to know that Kabredlo's on 17th and A sold cigarettes to minors ... just a thought. "

 minors wrote on May 12, 2008 6:17 pm:
" I agree with Dan, I don't mind them doing these checks but they should target the minors as well. "

 Anya wrote on May 12, 2008 7:12 pm:
" Why do people think the police should pick and choose which laws to enforce? Selling tobacco to minors is illegal and there is nothing wrong with stings! This is the same attitude we encountered when the North Platte sheriff and his deputies broke the law the other day by having open containers of alcohol in their car. Bloggers said it was okay because they had stressful jobs. ??????????? "

 Which laws should they enforce wrote on May 12, 2008 7:13 pm:
" To all of you complainers, which laws should LPD enforce??
My hat is off to LPD. Prevention of cigarette smoking before age 20 is shown to decrease the chance you will become a cigarette smoker. "

 Enough already wrote on May 12, 2008 8:07 pm:
" To "which law should they enforce": Seems pretty stupid that we bust the adults for selling something that we would never bust the kids for using. Where are they kids responsibilities in this? THe kids at SE know that they can smoke all over the neighborhood and the resource cop there just looks the other way. Heck I'm waiting for him to ask to bum a cigarette from one of the kids. Seems to me fair is fair. If you bust the adults, start ticketing these kids as well. What is good for the goose is good for the gander! "

 Man wrote on May 12, 2008 8:28 pm:
" Cassidy has loads of money for tobacco checks huh? Maybe he should spend some of it on red light runners. Hide for 30 minutes at any major intersection and he would have payroll for a year. Isn;t there any real crimes going on in town. Sounds like tinker toy kops to me. "

 Safer wrote on May 12, 2008 9:41 pm:
" I feel so much safer. Just as I did when LPD announced they were investigating an embexxlement of thirty dollars (two weeks ago). Good grief. Between busting kids, clerks and bartenders, it's amazing that they can get anything done. But boy do I feel safe. "

 Late ODay wrote on May 12, 2008 10:25 pm:
" What did I tell ya?! We had a recent surge in violent crime, LPD leaps into action with a diversionary tactic to distract everyone's attention. "That's some fine smoke-n-mirrors there, Lou." "

 Confused wrote on May 12, 2008 10:41 pm:
" I thought we needed more police per capita? Regardless of the funding or anything else for the check, the police department should turn this down or increase staffing based on all the extra monies available.

There are so many different messages coming from LPD it is difficult to keep up with them. If they have time for these projects, then everything is under control and we are cracking down on smaller concerns. "

 Anonymous wrote on May 13, 2008 12:00 am:
" I have no problem carding anyone who reasonably appears to be underage. If they don't reasonably appear to be underage, then carding then is, by definition, unreasonable. "

 Aaron wrote on May 13, 2008 6:56 am:
" Nick, I live in Omaha and I think you should be very thankful that LPD is getting people for "the little thing" otherwise, Lincoln would be having the same problems that Omaha is having. If lot of little offenses go unchecked, then you start having lots of big offenses like shootings. Go live in north Omaha. Then you will see what I am talking about. LPD is just trying to stay ahead of the crime by putting out the little fires before they grow into bigger problems. "

 hapkidoman wrote on May 13, 2008 8:53 am:
" Once again. This money is only to be used for this particular purpose. They are not bringing regular street officers in to do these busts. An officer has to volunteer to do it on their off time.You know whats funny we have the smallest police force per capita in Nebraska and actually a very low crime rate but people still complain about the police. How about we raise taxes 100% and double our police force and out a police officer on every block to answer to every whim of every person that cant solve their own problems. Most of the people that complain about the LPD have broken the law and are mad they got caught. I am not a police officer however I dont think we should be complaining about something we dont want to do ourselves. "

 Nick V. wrote on May 13, 2008 9:17 am:
" Four businesses I won't be a patron of anymore! I've blacklisted all stores who have been busted for selling to minors. Hey owners, this hurts your business! "

 Mary wrote on May 13, 2008 10:16 am:
" While we all know that smoking is bad for you, don't we have better things to do than bust clerks who sell tobacco to minors? I'd rather see them spend more time on busting drunk drivers or people selling alcohol to minors. "

 GMP wrote on May 13, 2008 10:57 am:
" Don't they have those signs that say if you were born after this day in this year, you can't buy. Can't the clerks read that sign? If they can't, why are the stores hiring them? On another note, why go so crazy with id'ing those who are buying cigerettes, and then let middle school kids smoke on the street outside the schools, and not ticket them? "

 Curious wrote on May 13, 2008 10:59 am:
" What correlation does this have to do with the gas prices? Yes, I understand that we are all upset that we have to pay so much to fill our tanks, but LPD has a lot of work they are doing. They CAN investigate more than one crime at a time. You people act like we live in Podunk, and have all of one officer. Get off LPD's back, and let them do their jobs, or YOU go to the acadamy, become an officer, and do it yourselves. "

 read wrote on May 13, 2008 11:21 am:
" Did you read the story- This is done via a grant from HHS- Grant money means that none of our taxes are being used. The grant money usually covers the wages of all parties participating and any other expenses. "

 Its a good thing wrote on May 13, 2008 11:49 am:
" I think it's a good thing that they do this, because my little sister was involved in one of these things a few years ago, and one of the clerks sold her cigarettes, he carded her but he also wrote down all the information on her lisense, so he could "call in the favor" later. That creep was arrested. So, I think that it is a good thing. "

 Ray wrote on May 13, 2008 11:52 am:
" The people being hired today to work in these convience stores heve to be able to READ which many of them can't. Suggest everyone being employed be required to take a basic english and math test to determine their ability to comprehend what they need to know. "

 bIG bROTHER wrote on May 13, 2008 2:50 pm:
" Who cares? Doesn't Cassidy and company know that living on Planet Earth causes death? Your chances of being killed in an automobile accident are far greater. Lets spend some time enforcing traffic laws.
Or getting all those prostitutes off the street, not to mention the gang bangers, Meth tweakers, skateboarders, graffitti artists, and soccer Mom's gabbing on the cell phones while driving. "

Ads by Yahoo!

More Stories In Local