Evanston Police Conduct Tobacco Checks
The Evanston Police Department's Juvenile Bureau conducted a tobacco compliance check on February 24, 2012 in which police focused their attention on retail establishments that sell tobacco products in Evanston and have a license from the city allowing such sales. This mission was funded through a grant from the Illlinois Liquor Control Commission looking for establishments that sell tobocco products to minors who are under the age of 18.
Officer's get assistance from individuals who are under the age of 18 to act as purchasers and enter the establishment attempting to make a purchase of a tobacco product. The people that the police use to assist in this compliance check operation are acting with their parent/guardian's permission to assist police during this operation. If an establishment questions the age or asks for identifcation from the minor, the establishment passes the check. Minors assisting police cannot mis-represent their age to purchase tobacco
Thirty-seven establishments licensed to sell tobacco in Evanston were checked during this 1-day operation and (2) establishments were found not to be in compliance. A compliance ticket for selling tobacco to a minor was issued to a clerk at the Walgreen's located at 635 Chicago Ave. and also the Howard Marathon Gas Station located at 555 Howard St. Both clerks must appear before an administrative hearing at city hall on March 13, 2012 at 1PM.