Petaluma PD Holds Alcohol and Tobacco Compliance Checks

The Petaluma Police Department conducted alcohol and tobacco compliance check operations on Feb. 22 and Feb. 25, sending minor “decoys” into tobacco and alcohol retail establishments who attempted to make purchases with a real California Driver’s License provided to them by the police department.

Each ID provided was specifically chosen to have vast differences in appearance height and weight from that of our minor decoy, police said.

Out of 33 establishments visited, 13 sold tobacco to the decoys, police said.

No arrests were made and no citations issued, however, as this was only a way to educate store owners and clerks on the importance of taking a close look at potentially underage customers attempting to buy alcohol and tobacco, police said.

This is one strategy the police department is using to reduce the availability of alcohol and tobacco products to minors and to hold retailers accountable for illegal sales.

These operations are conducted through a partnership between the police department and the Department of Health Services.