Oxnard Police Department – Incident Press Release
The Oxnard Police Department cited six clerks for selling tobacco products to minors between May 9, 2019, and May 28, 2019. The actions were the result of a youth decoy program in which minors, under the direct supervision of officers, attempted to purchase tobacco or vape items from 48 tobacco retail licensees in the City of Oxnard. The goal of these operations is to limit youth access to tobacco and vape products, and confirm that local businesses are operating in compliance with the law. The following establishments were cited for selling tobacco products to minors:
- A Plus Mini Mart, 902 N. A Street
- La Michoacana Market, 330 Cooper Road
- Oxnard Donuts, 1351 W. Gonzales Road
- Circle K, 501 S. Rose Avenue
- Doc’s Liquor & Market, 2195 E. Channel Islands Blvd
- Fred’s Gas, 3211 Saviers Road
The Oxnard Police Department will continue to conduct periodic compliance checks to reduce the availability of tobacco and vape products to our youth. Minor Decoy operations have been conducted by local law enforcement throughout the state since the 1980s. In 1994, the California Supreme Court ruled unanimously that use of underage decoys is a valid tool of law enforcement to ensure that licensees are complying with the law.
This project is part of the State of California Department of Justice Tobacco Grant Program, funded by the California Healthcare, Research and Prevention Tobacco Tax Act of 2016.