LACEY – Police said they charged a retailer with selling electronic smoking products to underaged people and then followed up with other retailers to make sure they were in compliance.
It is illegal to sell electronic smoking devices to people younger than 21. Following up on a report that the Tobacco Bazaar was doing this, police charged Raj Sharma, 51 of Manahawkin with the sale. They also levied charges of selling the device and flavored vapor against the business.
Police said they left educational literature with the owners and employees of Tobacco Bazaar. Then, they teamed up with the Ocean County Health Department to visit tobacco and vaping retailers in Lacey to make sure they knew about, and were following, the rules in New Jersey, which include:
- NJ 2C:33-13.1 prohibits the sale of tobacco and electronic smoking devices to persons under the age of 21.
- NJ 2A:170-51.12 prohibits the sale of flavored vapor products, regardless of the age of the customer.
- NJ 2A:170-51.4 prohibits the sale of tobacco and electronic smoking devices to persons under the Age of 21.
Finally, the police told the public that they take all reports concerning health and safety of residents seriously, and that if anyone has information about illegal sales of tobacco, vapor products, or electronic smoking devices, they should contact the Lacey Police Department at 609-693-6636.
