RT>EN>RT>GT>In PA, underage smoking, unlike underage drinking, is not a 
rime.
RT>  >RT>  >Underage purchase of cigarettes, or buying cigarettes for minors 
IS a
RT>  >RT>  >crime.  As a police officer, I can not charge a kid for simply 
smoking
RT>  >RT>  >If Icatch him buying smokes, or catch a store selling to him, 
then I
RT>  >can
RT>  >RT>  >charge someone with a crime.
RT>EN>RT>Have you, or do you know of any LEO that has ever arrested a 
erchant
RT>  >RT>for selling cigarettes to a minor?
RT>  >RT>---
RT>EN>I have known of several cases over my career. Some of which were 
andled
RT>  >by my subordinates when I was a supervisor with Dallas.  There was also
RT>  >a well publicized crack down in a Dallas suburb recently where several
RT>  >merchants were cited.
RT>Thanks Earl.  Thats encouraging.  I didn't know if this was one of those
RT>seldom, if ever, enforced laws that made people feel good because they
RT>were on the books, but weren't really effective.  I'm glad that, at
RT>least in Texas, the law is meaningful.  Now if we could just get the age
RT>discrimination out of it..... :)
It is seldom used and not real effective but there is some enforcement.
I failed to mention that Texas has, in the last legislative session (our
legislators only meet every other year so they do have the damages of
some legislators), passed a new law which prohibits those under the age
of eighteen from possessing tobacco products (that includes smokeless
tobacco which is a real problem for younger people).  The penalty is
interesting.  It includes a small fine (I think the upper limit is $100)
and attendance at a class on tobacco effects.  Failure to attend the
class can result in the persons drivers license being suspended.  I
haven't seen any of these cases in our court yet.
The Ole Sarge
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