On Wednesday, October 30, 2013, Waterloo Police conducted tobacco sales compliance checks.

The following businesses were complaint:

Casey's General Store, 51 E. Tower Park Drive
Kum & Go, 117 E. San Marnan Drive
Wal Mart, 1334 Flammang Drive
Hy-Vee Wine & Spirits, 2126 Kimball Avenue
Sam's Club, 210 E. Tower Park Drive
Crossroads Amoco, 2035 E. Mitchell Avenue
Hy-Vee, 1422 Flammang Drive
Bamboo Ridge, 4550 Hess Road
Tobacco Outlet, 1803 LaPorte Road
Casey's General Store, 1604 LaPorte Road
Jim Lind Shell Station, 230 E. Ridgeway Avenue
Walgreens, 111 W. Ridgeway Avenue

One business was cited for a violation:

Java Bay Trading Company, 777 Isle of Capri Blvd. The employee, Jonna Ernst, age 19, of Buckingham, IA was cited for selling tobacco to a person under age 18, IA Code 453A.2(1).

This compliance project is funded by the Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division, Iowa Pledge (I-Pledge) program. The I-Pledge Program has helped increase statewide tobacco compliance to a rate of 93% since it began in 2000.

Criminal penalties for selling tobacco to a minor include a $100 fine for a first offense, a $250 fine for a second offense and a $500 fine for third and subsequent offenses. However, handing out citations is not the intent of the Iowa Pledge Program.

Captain Tim Pillack
Waterloo Police Department
319-291-4336