The Waterloo Police Department is partnering with the Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division for Tobacco, Alternative Nicotine and Vapor Product Education and Enforcement.

Known as I-Pledge, the program is a partnership with the Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division (ABD) to educate local retailers and to enforce Iowa’s tobacco, alternative nicotine and vapor product laws.   Since the program’s inception in 2000, the statewide tobacco compliance rate has grown to 95%.  

I-Pledge places emphasis on retailer training.   Clerks who wish to complete the online training course and pass the exam become I-Pledge certified.   This allows the retail establishment to use an affirmative defense against a civil penalty if the certified clerk makes an illegal sale.   Retailer training is a great way to assist retailers in maintaining a compliant and responsible establishment.

Waterloo Police Officers will be conducting compliance checks on local establishments as part of the I-Pledge Program.   Underage customers, under the supervision of law enforcement, will attempt to purchase tobacco or alternative product.   Clerks who make an illegal sale will be cited.

Criminal penalties include a $100 fine for a first offense, a $250 fine for the second offense and a $500 fine for the third and subsequent offenses.  

Citations are not the intent of the I-Pledge program, the goal is to educate clerks and maintain a complaint retail environment for our community.  

Retailers can sign up to take the I-Pledge Traini ng at https://abd.iowa.gov/i-pledge.