The North Suburban Tobacco Compliance Check Program monitors youth access laws in northern Ramsey County. If you would like more information on compliance checks, cigarette vending machines, diversion programs, etc. please contact staff at The North Suburban Tobacco Compliance Check Program.

Falcon Heights Adopts Strong Tobacco Ordiance 

http://rosevillereview.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=295&ArticleID=4635&TM=44064.27

Falcon HeightsCity Council says

“No Tobacco Sales to Youth”

 Selling tobacco to minors is illegal and in FalconHeights it just got more expensive under an ordinance approved by the city council on January 28, 2010. The  first (1st) violation is a $500.00 fine,  second (2nd) violation within 24 months is a $750.00 fine, and the third (3rd) or subsequent violation within any 24 month period is a $250.00 fine and  revocation of the license, and the retailer will not be eligible for renewal for a period of two (2) years after the revocation.   A clerk caught selling tobacco to a minor faces a fine of $50.00 and could be charged with a misdemeanor. 

The Falcon Heights City Council sent a loud and clear message that selling tobacco to a minor is not acceptable and will not be tolerated.   “This fine structure is the strongest among Ramsey County cities and possibly the state of Minnesota." said Katie Engman of the North Suburban Tobacco Compliance Project.  Engman worked with the city to address the issue of the previous fine structure which did not meet the minimum guidelines set by the state.  

 Since 2007 Falcon Heights had a 100% compliance rate.  In 2009 a illegal tobacco sale occurred and the city decided to update their ordinance.   FalconHeights has 3 tobacco vendors, so one sale significantly affects their compliance rates.

 FalconHeights previously did not have a fine structure in place and violations were dealt with on a case by case.

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2009 Compliance Rates Results

• 91% overall compliance for 2009 ,   compared to 95% in 2008 and 88% compliance in 2007.
• Congratulations to Arden Hills, North Oaks, Vadnais Heights, and White Bear Township for 100% compliance 2009.
• The following cities: Arden Hills, FalconHeights, GemLake, Little Canada, New Brighton, North Oaks, North St. Paul, VadnaisHeights and WhiteBearTownship had 100% tobacco compliance in at least one round of checks.

  Trainings

• 2 tobacco vendor trainings were offered in 2009.  I will continue to offer two trainings in 2010 open to all vendors and will continue to be available for onsite vendor training at their request.

  Student Volunteers

• Over 20 students are involved in  tobacco compliance checks.
  
• Gift certificates are given to students who assist with the program.
• Hey students ages 15-18, if you want to volunteer, contact Katie- you get service hours, a gift card, and made a difference in the community.

 Other Information

• North Suburban Tobacco Compliance Project will receive a grant in 2010 from the Association for Nonsmokers- MN to offset each city’s cost to participate in the program.

• Participation in the project requires a minimum of two rounds of unannounced tobacco compliance checks per year in each city. Additional compliance checks when anestablishment fails a check is strogly reccomended

• According to state law, these checks must be unannounced to the vendors.

• Certificates are sent to vendors, in participating cities, who pass each compliance check.

Video of Falcon Heights City News Beat
Discussing the Ordinance and Compliance Checks

Original Link Source: http://www.ctv15.org/index.php/vod/cnb/fh.html