The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office and Red Oak Police have taken a pledge to keep tobacco, alternative nicotine and vapor products out of the hands of Montgomery County youth.   Iowa Pledge (“I-Pledge” for short) is a partnership with the Iowa Alcoholic Beverage Division (ABD) to educate local retailers, and to enforce Iowa’s tobacco laws. Officials say since the program’s inception in 2000, the statewide tobacco compliance rate has grown 91 percent. By partnering with the ABD, the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office and Red Oak Police says they will do their part to continue the upward trend.

I-Pledge places an emphasis on retailer training. Clerks who successfully complete an online training program and pass an exam, will be I-pledge certified, and the retail establishment will receive an affirmative defense against a civil penalty, if the certified clerk makes an illegal sale. As part of the I-Pledge program, officers and deputies will be conducting compliance checks on local establishments using underage customers under the supervision of law enforcement officials. The underage customers will attempt to purchase tobacco, alternative nicotine and/or vapor products, Clerks who make the sale will be cited on the spot. Criminal penalties for selling the products to minor during the unannounced checks, include fines from $100 for the first offense, $250 for a second offense, and a $500 fine for third and subsequent offenses.

Authorities say handing out citations is not the intent of the I-Pledge Program. The purpose is to train clerks to keep tobacco products out of the hands of Iowa’s youth.