5 Joliet Vaping Stores Busted For Selling To Minors: Mayor D'Arcy

JOLIET, IL — Joliet Mayor Terry D’Arcy announced on Friday the city has shut down five establishments for violating laws related to selling vaping materials to underage individuals.

D’Arcy, who also serves as liquor and tobacco commissioner, said the names of the five establishments are:

• Cuddy Tobacco & Vape – 1507 W. Jefferson St.
• Smoke Shop Superstore – 1358 W. Jefferson St.
• Tobacco & Cigars – 3109 W. Jefferson St.
• Up in Smoke – 330 Republic Ave.
• Cuddy World Tobacco – 185 Larkin Ave.

“We received a complaint about underage selling of vaping materials throughout Joliet, so we enlisted the help of our police department to put together a sting operation,” D’Arcy said in Friday's press release. “The operation found five establishments violating the ordinance and these businesses have been issued an emergency suspension order for seven days. We want strict enforcement of the law with zero tolerance for violators.”

According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, e-cigarettes, vapes, vape or hookah pens,
e-pipes, and other vaping products are battery-powered devices that allow users to inhale, or
vape, aerosolized liquid (e-juice). As of July 1, 2019, Illinois law prohibits the sale of tobacco
products, including these products, to people under the age of 21.

According to the local ordinance, the owner of the license can request a hearing within the seven-day suspension. First time offenders face a fine of up to $1000 and up to a 30-day suspension.