San Anselmo Clerk Cited During Minor Decoy Alcohol Sting: Police

MARIN COUNTY, CA — The Central Marin Police Authority announced the results Monday of a minor decoy alcohol sting operation conducted Sept. 10 in San Anselmo, Larkspur and Corte Madera in an attempt to thwart local teen alcohol consumption — in part by identifying retail clerks willing to sell them alcoholic beverages.

During the operation, CMPA officers, an 18-year-old decoy and an agent with the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) visited 10 different ABC-licensed retail businesses, according to Margo Rohrbacher, CMPA spokeswoman.

"The minor decoy program allows local law enforcement agencies to use persons under 20 years of age as decoys to purchase alcohol from licensed premises," Rohrbacher said. "If asked, the decoy is required to present their true identification and to answer questions about their age truthfully. The program is recognized as an effective method to attack the problem of unlawful purchase and consumption of alcoholic beverages by young people."

According to Rohrbacher, the decoy, under the direct supervision of officers, attempted to purchase alcohol from each of the stores and was turned away at nine of them. However, she said, an employee at Gas and Shop, 750 Sir Francis Drake Blvd., in San Anselmo, allegedly did sell to the decoy and was cited for selling alcohol to minors.

The clerk who made the sale — whose identity was not disclosed — faces a minimum fine of $250 and/or 24 to 32 hours of community service for a first violation, Rohrbacher said.

"In addition, ABC can take administrative action against the alcoholic beverage license of the business," she said. "This may include a fine, a suspension, or the permanent revocation of the license."

Funding for the decoy operation was made possible by a grant from ABC through its Grant Assistance Program. ABC is a department of the State of California Business, Consumers Services and Housing Agency.

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