Tobacco and Vape Decoy Operation

The Chico Police Departments School Resource Unit cited six clerks for selling tobacco/vape products to minors on May 27, 2020. The actions were the result of a youth decoy program in which minors, under the direct supervision of officers, attempted to purchase tobacco or vape products from 13 tobacco retail licensees in the City of Chico. The goal of this operation was to limit youth access to tobacco and vape products, and to confirm that local businesses are operating within compliance with the law. The following establishments were cited for selling tobacco products to minors:

• The Dungeon (132 Broadway)
• Arco (110 W. 9th Street)
• Discount Cigarettes (1229 Mangrove Avenue)
• Volcano (1450 Mangrove Avenue Suite 100)
• Cigarette City (1722 Mangrove Avenue)
• Blue Oval (1025 Nord Avenue)

The Chico Police Department will continue to conduct periodic compliance checks to reduce the availability of tobacco and vape products to our youth. Minor Decoy operations have been conducted by local law enforcement throughout the state since the 1980s. In June 2016, California raised the minimum age of purchasing and using tobacco to the age of 21. This law does not apply to active military personnel.
This project is part of the State of California Department of Justice Tobacco Grant Program, funded by the California Healthcare, Research and Prevention Tobacco Tax Act of 2016.

Location: Multiple Locations in Chico
Date/Time: 5/27/2020
Incident Case Number: 20-2843, 20-2845, 20-2847, 20-2849, 20-2850, 20-2852
Involved Party: N/A
Suspect: N/A
Supervisor: Sgt. Greg Rogers
Watch Commander: Commander Mike Rodden