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HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrdinance 1371ORDINANCE NO. 1371 BEING AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NO. 853, CITY CODE OF 1977, PERTAINING TO CIGARETTE/TOBACCO SALES The City of Columbia Heights does ordain: Section 2: Section 5.302 of Ordinance No. 853, City Code of 1977, which currently reads as follows, to wit: 5.302(1) No person shall engage in the trade or sale of retail of cigarettes or cigarette wrappers without a license issued pursuant to the provisions of this chapter. 5.302(2) License applicants under this section shall state in the application the location where cigarettes or cigarette wrappers will be sold, the general nature of other business conducted at said location, and whether sales will be made by vending machine or over the county. 5.302(3) A separate license shall be required for each location or machine where cigarettes or wrappers are sold. 5.302(4) No license or agent or employee thereof shall sell or distribute cigarettes or cigarette wrappers to a minor. 5.302(5) The requirements for a license under this section is supplemental to the requirement for a license under any other section of this Article. Shall hereafter be amended to read as follows: SECTION 2 CIGARETTE/TOBACCO SALES 5.302(1) PURPOSE An ordinance relating to the sale, possession, and use of tobacco, tobacco products, and tobacco related devices in the City and to reduce the illegal sale, possession, and use of such items to and by minors. Because the City recognizes that many persons under the age of 18 years purchase or otherwise obtain, possess, and use tobacco, tobacco products, and tobacco related devices, and such sales, possession, and use are violations of State laws; studied have shown that most smokers begin smoking before they have reached the age of 18 years and that those persons who reach the age of 18 years without having started smoking are significantly less likely to begin smoking; and because smoking has been shown to be the cause of several serious health problems which subsequently place a financial burden on all levels of government; this s.302(2) ordinance shall be intended to regulate the sale, possession, and use of tobacco, tobacco products, and tobacco related devices for the purpose of enforcing and furthering existing laws, to protect minors against the serious effects associated with the illegal use of tobacco, tobacco products, and tobacco related devices, and to further the official public policy of the State of Minnesota in regard to preventing young people from starting to smoke as stated in Mn. Statute 144.391. DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATIONS Except as may otherwise be provided or clearly implied by context, all terms shall be given their commonly accepted definitions. The singular shall include the plural ahd the plural shall include the singular. The masculine shall include the feminine and neuter, and vice-versa. The term "shall" means mandatory and the term "may means permissive. The following terms shall have the definitions given to them: (A) Tobacco or Tobacco Products. "Tobacco" or "Tobacco products" shall mean any substance or item containing tobacco leaf, including but not limited to, cigarettes; cigars; pipe tobacco; snuff, fine cut or other chewing tobacco, cheroots, stogies; perique; granulated, plug cut, crimp cut, ready- rubbed, and other smoking tobacco; snuff flowers; cavendish; short plugs and twist tobacco; dipping tobaccos; refuse scraps, clippings, cuttings and sweepings of tobacco; and other kinds and forms of tobacco leaf prepared in such manner as to be suitable for chewing, sniffing or smoking. (B) Tobacco Related Devices. "Tobacco related devices" shall mean any tobacco product as well as a pipe, rolling papers, or other device used in a manner which enables the chewing, sniffing, or smoking of tobacco or tobacco products. (C) Self-Service Merchandising. "Self Service Merchandising" shall mean open displays of tobacco, tobacco products, or tobacco related devices in any manner where any person shall have access to the tobacco, tobacco products, or tobacco related devices, without the assistance or intervention of the licensee or the licensee's employee. The assistance or intervention shall entail the actual physical exchange of the tobacco, tobacco product, or tobacco related device between the customer and the licensee or employee. Self-service merchandising shall not include vending machines. (D) Vending Machine. "Vending Machine" shall mean any mechanical, electric or electronic, or other type of device which dispenses tobacco, tobacco products, or tobacco related devices upon the insertion of money, tokens, or other form of payment directly into the machine by the person seeking to purchase the tobacco, tobacco product, or tobacco related device. (E) Individual Packaged. "Individually packaged" shall mean the practice of selling any tobacco or tobacco product wrapped individually for sale. Individually wrapped tobacco and tobacco products shall include, but not be limited to, single cigarette packs, single bags or cans of loose tobacco in any form, and single cans or other packaging of snuff or chewing tobacco. Cartons or other packaging containing more than a single pack or other container as described in this section shall not be considered individually packaged. (F) Loosies. "Loosies" shall mean the common term used to refer t a single or individually packaged cigarettes. (G) Minor. "Minor" shall mean any natural person who has not yet reached the age of eighteen (18) years. (H) Retail Establishment. "Retail Establishment" shall mean any place of business where tobacco, tobacco products, or tobacco related devices are available for sale to the general public. Retail establishments shall include, but not be limited to, grocery stores, convenience stores, and restaurants. (I) Moveable Place of Business "Movable Place of Business" shall refer to any form of business operated out a truck, van, automobile, or other type of vehicle or transportable shelter and not a fixed address store front or other permanent type of structure authorized for sales transactions. (J) Sale. A "sale" shall mean any transfer of goods for money, trade, barter, or other consideration. (K) Compliance Checks. "Compliance Checks" shall mean the system the City uses to investigate and ensure that those authorized to sell tobacco, tobacco products, and tobacco related devices are following and complying with the requirements of this ordinance. Compliance checks shall involve the use of minors as authorized by this ordinance. Compliance checks shall also mean the use of minors who attempt to purchase tobacco, tobacco products, or tobacco related devices for educational, research and training purposes as authorized by State and Federal laws. Compliance checks may also be conducted by other units of government for the purpose of enforcing appropriate Federal, State, or local laws and regulations relating to tobacco, tobacco products, and tobacco related devices. s.302(3) LICENSE REQUIRED. No person shall sell or offer to sell any tobacco, tobacco products, or tobacco related devices without first having obtained a license to do so from the City. (A) Application, An application for a license to sell tobacco, tobacco products, or tobacco related devices shall be made on a form provided by the City. The application shall contain the full name of the applicant, the applicant's residential and business addresses and telephone numbers, the name of the business for which the license is sought, and any additional information the city deems necessary. Upon receipt of a completed application, the License Clerk shall forward the application to the City Council for actions at its next regularly scheduled meeting. If the clerk shall determine that an application is incomplete, he or she shall return the application to the applicant with notice of the information necessary to make the application complete. (B) Action. The City Council may either approve or deny the license, or it may delay action for such reasonable period of time as necessary to complete any investigation of the application or the applicant it deems necessary. The clerk shall refer the completed application to the Police Department for a background and record check prior to formal review by the City Council. If the City Council shall approve the license, the License Clerk shall issue the license to the applicant. If the City Council denies the license, notice of the denial shall be given to the applicant along with notice of the applicant's right to appeal the Council's decision. (C) Term. The term of each license shall follow the calendar year with an expiration date of December 31 of each year and are not pro-rated. (D) Revocation or Suspension. Any license issued under this ordinance may be revoked or suspended as provided in the Violations and Penalties section of this ordinance. (E) Transfers. All licenses issued under this ordinance shall be valid only on the premises for which the license was issued and only for the person to whom the license was issued. Change of location or applicant will be required to be treated as a new application. (F) Moveable Place of Business. No license shall be issued to a moveable place of business. Only fixed location businesses shall be eligible to be licensed under this ordinance. (G) Display. All licenses shall be posted and displayed in plain view of the general public on the licensed premises. (H) Renewals. The renewal of a license issued under this section shall be handled in the same manner as the original application. The request for renewal shall be made at least sixty days but no more than ninety days before the expiration of the current license. The issuance of a license issued under this ordinance shall be considered a privilege and not an absolute right of the applicant and shall not entitle the holder to an automatic renewal of the license. 5.302(4) FEES. No license shall be issued under this ordinance until the appropriate license fee shall be paid in full. 5.302(5) BASIS FOR DENIAL OF LICENSE The following shall be grounds for denying the issuance or renewal of a license under this ordinance; however, except as may otherwise be provided by law, the existence of any particular ground for denial does not mean that the city must deny the license. If a license is mistakenly issued or renewed to a person, it shall be revoked upon the discovery that the person was ineligible for the license under this Section; (A) The applicant is under the age of 18 years. (B) The applicant or any employee thereof has been convicted within the past five years of any violation of a Federal, State, or local law, ordinance provision, or other regulation relating to tobacco products, or tobacco related devices. (C) The applicant has had a license to sell tobacco, tobacco products, or tobacco related devices revoked within the preceding twelve months of the date of application. (D) The applicant fails to provide any information required on the application, or provides false or misleading information. (E) The applicant is prohibited by Federal, State, or other local law, ordinance, or other regulation, from holding such a license. 5.302(6) PROHIBITED SALES It shall be a violation of this ordinance for any persons, employee or responsible party to sell or offer to sell any tobacco, tobacco product, or tobacco related device: (A) To any person under the age of eighteen (18) years. (B) By means of any type of vending machine. (C) By means of self-service methods whereby the customer does not need to make a verbal or written request to an employee of the licensed premise in order to receive the tobacco, tobacco product, or tobacco related device and whereby there is not a physical exchange of the tobacco, tobacco product, or tobacco related device between the licensee or the licensee's employee, and the customer. (D) By means ofloosies. (E) Containing opium, morphine, jimson weed, bella donna, strychnos, cocaine, marijuana, or other type of deleterious, hallucinogenic, or toxic or controlled substance except nicotine and other substances found naturally in tobacco or added as part of an otherwise lawful manufacturing process. (F) By any other means, to any other person, or in any other manner or form prohibited by Federal, State, or other local law, ordinance provision, or other regulation. 5.302(7) VENDING MACHINES PROHIBITION It shall be unlawful for any person licensed under this ordinance to allow the sale of tobacco, tobacco products, or tobacco related devices by the means of a vending machine. 5.302(8) SELF-SERVICE SALES. It shall be unlawful for a licensee under this ordinance to allow the sale of tobacco, tobacco products, or tobacco related devices by any means whereby the customer may have access to such items without having to request the item from the licensee or the licensee's employee and whereby there is not a physical exchange of the tobacco, tobacco product, or the tobacco related device between the licensee and his or her clerk and the customer. All tobacco, tobacco products, and tobacco related devices shall either be stored behind a counter or other area not freely accessible to customers or in a case or other storage unit not left open and accessible to the general public. Any retailer selling tobacco, tobacco products, or tobacco related devices at the time this ordinance is adopted shall comply with this section before a new license is issued for the next license year. 5.302(9) RESPONSIBILITY. All licensees under this ordinance shall be responsible for the actions of their employees in regard to the sale of tobacco, tobacco products, or tobacco related devices on the licensed premises, and the sale of such an item by an employee shall be considered a sale by the license holder. It shall be the license holders responsibility to provide training to any employee conducting tobacco sales and/or sales of tobacco related products and devices and to document proof of such training to be provided upon request by any enforcing agent of the City. 5.302(10) COMPLIANCE CHECKS AND INSPECTIONS. All licensed premises shall be open to inspection by the City Police or other authorized City Official during regular business hours. From time to time, but at least one per year, the City shall conduct compliance checks by engaging, with the written consent of their parents and guardians, minors over the age of fifteen (15) years but less than eighteen (18) years, to enter into the licensed premise to attempt to purchase tobacco, tobacco products, or tobacco related devices. Minors used for the purpose of compliance checks shall be supervised by City designated law enforcement officers or other designated City personnel. Minors used for the purpose of compliance checks shall not be guilty of unlawful possession of tobacco, tobacco products, or tobacco related devices when such items are obtained as a part of the compliance check. No minor used in compliance checks shall attempt to use a false identification misrepresenting the minor's age and all minors lawfully engaged in a compliance check shall answer all questions about the minors age asked by the licensee or his or her employee and shall produce any identification for which he or she is asked. Nothing in this section shall prohibit compliance checks authorized by State or Federal laws for educational, research, or training purposes, or required for the enforcement of a particular State or Federal law. OTHER ILLEGAL ACTS Unless otherwise provided, the following acts shall be a violation of this ordinance. A. Illegal Sales It shall be a violation of this ordinance for any person to sell or otherwise provide any tobacco, tobacco product, or tobacco related device to any minor. B. Illegal Possession It shall be a violation of this ordinance for any minor to have in his or her possession any tobacco, tobacco product, or tobacco related device. This subdivision shall not apply to minors lawfully involved in a compliance check on behalf of the City. C. Illegal Use It shall be a violation of this ordinance for any minor to smoke, chew, sniff, or otherwise use any tobacco, tobacco product, or tobacco related device. D. Illegal Procurement It shall be a violation of this ordinance for any minor to purchase or attempt to purchase or otherwise obtain any tobacco, tobacco product, or tobacco related device, and it shall be a violation of this ordinance for any person to purchase or otherwise obtain such items on behalf of a minor. It shall also be a violation of this ordinance for any person to sell or otherwise provide any tobacco, tobacco product, or tobacco related device to any minor, and it shall further be a violation for any person to coerce or attempt to coerce a minor to illegally purchase or otherwise obtain or use any tobacco, tobacco product, or tobacco related device. This subdivision shall not apply to minors lawfully involved in a compliance check on behalf of the City. E. Use of False Identification It shall be a violation of this ordinance for any minor to attempt to disguise his or her true age by the use of a false form of identification, whether the identification is that of another person or one on which the age of the person has been modified or tampered with to represent an age older than the actual age of the person. 5.302(12) VIOLATIONS. In addition to any fine or other penalty, whether civil or criminal, violation of this ordinance by a licensee under this ordinance shall be grounds for the suspension or revocation of the license. A. Notice. Upon discovery of a suspected violation, the alleged violator shall be issued, either personally or by mail, a citation that sets forth the alleged violation and which shall inform the alleged violator of his or her right to be heard on the accusation. B. Hearings. If a person accused of violating this ordinance so requests, a hearing shall be scheduled, the time and place of which shall be published and provided to the accused violator. C. Hearing Officer. The City Council shall serve as the hearing officer. D. Decision. If the hearing officer determines that a violation of this ordinance did occur, that decision, along with the hearing officers reason for finding a violation and the penalty to be imposed under the Penalty section of this ordinance, shall be recorded in writing, a copy of which shall be provided to the accused violator. Likewise, if the hearing officer finds that no violation occurred or finds grounds for not imposing any penalty, such findings shall be recorded and a copy provided to the acquitted accused violator. Likewise, if the hearing officer finds that no violation occurred or finds grounds for not imposing any penalty, such findings shall be recorded and a copy provided to the acquitted accused violator. E. Appeals. Appeals of any decision made by the hearing officer shall be filed in the district court for the city in which the alleged violation occurred. F. Misdemeanor Prosecution. Nothing in this section shall prohibit the City from seeking prosecution as a misdemeanor for any alleged violation of this ordinance. If the City elects to seek misdemeanor prosecution, no administrative penalty shall be imposed. G. Continued Violation. Each violation, and every day in which a violation occurs or continues, shall constitute a separate offense. 5.302(13) PENALTIES. A. Licensees. Any licensee found to have violated this ordinance, or whose employee shall have violated this ordinance, shall be charged an administrative fine of $75.00 for a first violation of this ordinance; $200.00 for a second offense at the same licensed premises within a twenty-four (24) month period; and $250.00 for a third or subsequent offense at the same location within a twenty-four (24) month period. In addition, after the third offense, the license shall be suspended for not less than seven (7) days. B. Other Individuals. Other individuals, other than minors regulated by Section C of this subsection, found to be in violation of this ordinance shall be charged an administrative fee of $50.00. C. Minors. Minors found in unlawful possession of, or who unlawfully purchase or attempt to purchase, tobacco, tobacco products, or tobacco related devices, shall be required to attend a diversion or educational program. D. Misdemeanor. Nothing in this section shall prohibit the City from seeking prosecution as a misdemeanor for any violation of this ordinance. 5.302(14) EXCEPTIONS AND DEFENSES. Nothing in this ordinance shall prevent the providing of tobacco, tobacco products, or tobacco related devices to a minor as part of a lawfully recognized religious, spiritual, or cultural ceremony. It shall be an affirmative defense to the violation of this ordinance for a person to have reasonably relied on proof of age as described by State law. 5.302(15) SEVERABILITY AND SAVINGS CLAUSE. If any section or portion of this ordinance shall be found unconstitutional or otherwise invalid or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, that finding shall not serve as an invalidation or effect the validity and enforceability of any other section or provision of this ordinance. ORDINANCE NO. 1371 BEING AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NO. 853, CITY CODE OF 1977, PERTAINING TO CIGARETTE/TOBACCO SALES The City of Columbia Heights does ordain: Section 2: Section 5.302 of Ordinance No. 853, City Code of 1977, which currently reads as follows, to wit: 5.302(1) No person shall engage in the trade or sale of retail of cigarettes or cigarette wrappers without a license issued pursuant to the provisions of this chapter. 5.302(2) License applicants under this section shall state in the application the location where cigarettes or cigarette wrappers will be sold, the general nature of other business conducted at said location, and whether sales will be made by vending machine or over the county. 5.302(3) A separate license shall be required for each location or machine where cigarettes or wrappers are sold. 5.302(4) No license or agent or employee thereof shall sell or distribute cigarettes or cigarette wrappers to a minor. 5.302(5) The requirements for a license under this section is supplemental to the requirement for a license under any other section of this Article. Shall hereafter be amended to read as follows: SECTION 2 CIGARETTE/TOBACCO SALES 5.302( ) PURPOSE An ordinance relating to the sale, possession, and use of tobacco, tobacco products, and tobacco related devices in the City and to reduce the illegal sale, possession, and use of such items to and by minors. Because the City recognizes that many persons under the age of 18 years purchase or otherwise obtain, possess, and use tobacco, tobacco products, and tobacco related devices, and such sales, possession, and use are violations of State laws; studied have shown that most smokers begin smoking before they have reached the age of 18 years and that those persons who reach the age of 18 years without having started smoking are significantly less likely to begin smoking; and because smoking has been shown to be the cause of several serious health problems which subsequently place a financial burden on all levels of government; this ordinance shall be intended to regulate the sale, possession, and use of tobacco, tobacco products, and tobacco related devices for the purpose of enforcing and furthering existing laws, to protect minors against the serious effects associated with the illegal use of tobacco, tobacco products, and tobacco related devices, and to further the official public policy of the State of Minnesota in regard to preventing young people from starting to smoke as stated in Mn. Statute 144.391. 5.302(2) DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATIONS Except as may otherwise be provided or clearly implied by context, all terms shall be given their commonly accepted definitions. The singular shall include the plural ahd the plural shall include the singular. The masculine shall include the feminine and neuter, and vice-versa. The term "shall" means mandatory and the term "may means permissive. The following terms shall have the definitions given to them: (A) Tobacco or Tobacco Products. "Tobacco" or "Tobacco products" shall mean any substance or item containing tobacco leaf, including but not limited to, cigarettes; cigars; pipe tobacco; snuff, fine cut or other chewing tobacco, cheroots, stogies; perique; granulated, plug cut, crimp cut, ready- rubbed, and other smoking tobacco; snuff flowers; cavendish; short plugs and twist tobacco; dipping tobaccos; refuse scraps, clippings, cuttings and sweepings of tobacco; and other kinds and forms of tobacco leaf prepared in such manner as to be suitable for chewing, sniffing or smoking. (B) Tobacco Related Devices. "Tobacco related devices" shall mean any tobacco product as well as a pipe, rolling papers, or other device used in a manner which enables the chewing, sniffing, or smoking of tobacco or tobacco products. (C) Self-Service Merchandising. "Self Service Merchandising" shall mean open displays of tobacco, tobacco products, or tobacco related devices in any manner where any person shall have access to the tobacco, tobacco products, or tobacco related devices, without the assistance or intervention of the licensee or the licensee's employee. The assistance or intervention shall entail the actual physical exchange of the tobacco, tobacco product, or tobacco related device between the customer and the licensee or employee. Self-service merchandising shall not include vending machines. (D) Vending Machine. "Vending Machine" shall mean any mechanical, electric or electronic, or other type of device which dispenses tobacco, tobacco products, or tobacco related devices upon the insertion of money, tokens, or other form of payment directly into the machine by the person seeking to purchase the tobacco, tobacco product, or tobacco related device. (E) Individual Packaged. "Individually packaged" shall mean the practice of selling any tobacco or tobacco product wrapped individually for sale. Individually wrapped tobacco and tobacco products shall include, but not be limited to, single cigarette packs, single bags or cans of loose tobacco in any form, and single cans or other packaging of snuff or chewing tobacco. Cartons or other packaging containing more than a single pack or other container as described in this section shall not be considered individually packaged. (F) Loosies. "Loosies" shall mean the common term used to refer t a single or individually packaged cigarettes. (G) Minor. "Minor" shall mean any natural person who has not yet reached the age of eighteen (18) years. (H) Retail Establishment. "Retail Establishment" shall mean any place of business where tobacco, tobacco products, or tobacco related devices are available for sale to the general public. Retail establishments shall include, but not be limited to, grocery stores, convenience stores, and restaurants. (I) Moveable Place of Business "Movable Place of Business" shall refer to any form of business operated out a truck, van, automobile, or other type of vehicle or transportable shelter and not a fixed address store front or other permanent type of structure authorized for sales transactions. (J) Sale. A "sale" shall mean any transfer of goods for money, trade, barter, or other consideration. (K) Compliance Checks. "Compliance Checks" shall mean the system the City uses to investigate and ensure that those authorized to sell tobacco, tobacco products, and tobacco related devices are following and complying with the requirements of this ordinance. Compliance checks shall involve the use of minors as authorized by this ordinance. Compliance checks shall also mean the use of minors who attempt to purchase tobacco, tobacco products, or tobacco related devices for educational, research and training purposes as authorized by State and Federal laws. Compliance checks may also be conducted by other units of government for the purpose of enforcing appropriate Federal, State, or local laws and regulations relating to tobacco, tobacco products, and tobacco related devices. 5.302(3) LICENSE REQUIRED. No person shall sell or offer to sell any tobacco, tobacco products, or tobacco related devices without first having obtained a license to do so from the City. (A) Application, An application for a license to sell tobacco, tobacco products, or tobacco related devices shall be made on a form provided by the City. The application shall contain the full name of the applicant, the applicant's residential and business addresses and telephone numbers, the name of the business for which the license is sought, and any additional information the city deems necessary. Upon receipt of a completed application, the License Clerk shall forward the application to the City Council for actions at its next regularly scheduled meeting. If the clerk shall determine that an application is incomplete, he or she shall return the application to the applicant with notice of the information necessary to make the application complete. (B) Action. The City Council may either approve or deny the license, or it may delay action for such reasonable period of time as necessary to complete any investigation of the application or the applicant it deems necessary. The clerk shall refer the completed application to the Police Department for a background and record check prior to formal review by the City Council. If the City Council shall approve the license, the License Clerk shall issue the license to the applicant. If the City Council denies the license, notice of the denial shall be given to the applicant along with notice of the applicant's right to appeal the Council's decision. (C) Term. The term of each license shall follow the calendar year with an expiration date of December 31 of each year and are not pro-rated. (D) Revocation or Suspension. Any license issued under this ordinance may be revoked or suspended as provided in the Violations and Penalties section of this ordinance. (E) Transfers. All licenses issued under this ordinance shall be valid only on the premises for which the license was issued and only for the person to whom the license was issued. Change of location or applicant will be required to be treated as a new application. (F) Moveable Place of Business. No license shall be issued to a moveable place of business. Only fixed location businesses shall be eligible to be licensed under this ordinance. (G) Display. All licenses shall be posted and displayed in plain view of the general public on the licensed premises. (H) Renewals. The renewal of a license issued under this section shall be handled in the same manner as the original application. The request for renewal shall be made at least sixty days but no more than ninety days before the expiration of the current license. The issuance of a license issued under this ordinance shall be considered a privilege and not an absolute right of the applicant and shall not entitle the holder to an automatic renewal of the license. 5.302(4) FEES. No license shall be issued under this ordinance until the appropriate license fee shall be paid in full. 5.302(5) BASIS FOR DENIAL OF LICENSE The following shall be grounds for denying the issuance or renewal of a license under this ordinance; however, except as may otherwise be provided by law, the existence of any particular ground for denial does not mean that the city must deny the license. If a license is mistakenly issued or renewed to a person, it shall be revoked upon the discovery that the person was ineligible for the license under this Section; (A) The applicant is under the age of 18 years. (B) The applicant or any employee thereof has been convicted within the past five years of any violation of a Federal, State, or local law, ordinance provision, or other regulation relating to tobacco products, or tobacco related devices. (C) The applicant has had a license to sell tobacco, tobacco products, or tobacco related devices revoked within the preceding twelve months of the date of application. (D) The applicant fails to provide any information required on the application, or provides false or misleading information. (E) The applicant is prohibited by Federal, State, or other local law, ordinance, or other regulation, from holding such a license. 5.302(6) PROHIBITED SALES It shall be a violation of this ordinance for any persons, employee or responsible party to sell or offer to sell any tobacco, tobacco product, or tobacco related device: (A) To any person under the age of eighteen (18) years. (B) By means of any type of vending machine. (C) By means of self-service methods whereby the customer does not need to make a verbal or written request to an employee of the licensed premise in order to receive the tobacco, tobacco product, or tobacco related device and whereby there is not a physical exchange of the tobacco, tobacco product, or tobacco related device between the licensee or the licensee's employee, and the customer. (D) By means ofloosies. (E) Containing opium, morphine, jimson weed, bella donna, strychnos, cocaine, marijuana, or other type of deleterious, hallucinogenic, or toxic or controlled substance except nicotine and other substances found naturally in tobacco or added as part of an otherwise lawful manufacturing process. (F) By any other means, to any other person, or in any other manner or form prohibited by Federal, State, or other local law, ordinance provision, or other regulation. 5.302(7) VENDING MACHINES PROHIBITION It shall be unlawful for any person licensed under this ordinance to allow the sale of tobacco, tobacco products, or tobacco related devices by the means of a vending machine. 5.302(8) SELF-SERVICE SALES. It shall be unlawful for a licensee under this ordinance to allow the sale of tobacco, tobacco products, or tobacco related devices by any means whereby the customer may have access to such items without having to request the item from the licensee or the licensee's employee and whereby there is not a physical exchange of the tobacco, tobacco product, or the tobacco related device between the licensee and his or her clerk and the customer. All tobacco, tobacco products, and tobacco related devices shall either be stored behind a counter or other area not freely accessible to customers or in a case or other storage unit not left open and accessible to the general public. Any retailer selling tobacco, tobacco products, or tobacco related devices at the time this ordinance is adopted shall comply with this section before a new license is issued for the next license year. 5.302(9) RESPONSIBILITY. All licensees under this ordinance shall be responsible for the actions of their employees in regard to the sale of tobacco, tobacco products, or tobacco related devices on the licensed premises, and the sale of such an item by an employee shall be considered a sale by the license holder. It shall be the license holders responsibility to provide training to any employee conducting tobacco sales and/or sales of tobacco related products and devices and to document proof of such training to be provided upon request by any enforcing agent of the City. 5.302( 0) COMPLIANCE CHECKS AND INSPECTIONS. All licensed premises shall be open to inspection by the City Police or other authorized City Official during regular business hours. From time to time, but at least one per year, the City shall conduct compliance checks by engaging, with the written consent of their parents and guardians, minors over the age of fifteen (15) years but less than eighteen (18) years, to enter into the licensed premise to attempt to purchase tobacco, tobacco products, or tobacco related devices. Minors used for the purpose of compliance checks shall be supervised by City designated law enforcement officers or other designated City personnel. Minors used for the purpose of compliance checks shall not be guilty of unlawful possession of tobacco, tobacco products, or tobacco related devices when such items are obtained as a part of the compliance check. No minor used in compliance checks shall attempt to use a false identification misrepresenting the minor's age and all minors lawfully engaged in a compliance check shall answer all questions about the minors age asked by the licensee or his or her employee and shall produce any identification for which he or she is asked. Nothing in this section shall prohibit compliance checks authorized by State or Federal laws for s.302( 2) educational, research, or training purposes, or required for the enforcement of a particular State or Federal law. OTHER ILLEGAL ACTS Unless otherwise provided, the following acts shall be a violation of this ordinance. A. Illegal Sales It shall be a violation of this ordinance for any person to sell or otherwise provide any tobacco, tobacco product, or tobacco related device to any minor. B. Illegal Possession It shall be a violation of this ordinance for any minor to have in his or her possession any tobacco, tobacco product, or tobacco related device. This subdivision shall not apply to minors lawfully involved in a compliance check on behalf of the City. C. Illegal Use It shall be a violation of this ordinance for any minor to smoke, chew, sniff, or otherwise use any tobacco, tobacco product, or tobacco related device. D. Illegal Procurement It shall be a violation of this ordinance for any minor to purchase or attempt to purchase or otherwise obtain any tobacco, tobacco product, or tobacco related device, and it shall be a violation of this ordinance for any person to purchase or otherwise obtain such items on behalf of a minor. It shall also be a violation of this ordinance for any person to sell or otherwise provide any tobacco, tobacco product, or tobacco related device to any minor, and it shall further be a violation for any person to coerce or attempt to coerce a minor to illegally purchase or otherwise obtain or use any tobacco, tobacco product, or tobacco related device. This subdivision shall not apply to minors lawfully involved in a compliance check on behalf of the City. E. Use of False Identification It shall be a violation of this ordinance for any minor to attempt to disguise his or her true age by the use of a false form of identification, whether the identification is that of another person or one on which the age of the person has been modified or tampered with to represent an age older than the actual age of the person. VIOLATIONS. In addition to any fine or other penalty, whether civil or criminal, violation of this ordinance by a licensee under this ordinance shall be grounds for the suspension or revocation of the license. A. Notice. Upon discovery of a suspected violation, the alleged violator shall be issued, either personally or by mail, a citation that sets forth the alleged violation and which shall inform the alleged violator of his or her right to be heard on the accusation. B. Hearings. If a person accused of violating this ordinance so requests, a hearing shall be scheduled, the time and place of which shall be published and provided to the accused violator. C. Hearing Officer. The City Council shall serve as the hearing officer. D. Decision. If the hearing officer determines that a violation of this ordinance did occur, that decision, along with the hearing officers reason for finding a violation and the penalty to be imposed under the Penalty section of this ordinance, shall be recorded in writing, a copy of which shall be provided to the accused violator. Likewise, if the hearing officer finds that no violation occurred or finds grounds for not imposing any penalty, such findings shall be recorded and a copy provided to the acquitted accused violator. Likewise, if the hearing officer finds that no violation occurred or finds grounds for not imposing any penalty, such findings shall be recorded and a copy provided to the acquitted accused violator. E. Appeals. Appeals of any decision made by the hearing officer shall be filed in the district court for the city in which the alleged violation occurred. F. Misdemeanor Prosecution. Nothing in this section shall prohibit the City from seeking prosecution as a misdemeanor for any alleged violation of this ordinance. If the City elects to seek misdemeanor prosecution, no administrative penalty shall be imposed. G. Continued Violation. Each violation, and every day in which a violation occurs or continues, shall constitute a separate offense. 5.302(13) PENALTIES. A. Licensees. Any licensee found to have violated this ordinance, or whose employee shall have violated this ordinance, shall be charged an administrative fine of $75.00 for a first violation of this ordinance; $200.00 for a second offense at the same licensed premises within a twenty-four (24) month period; and $250.00 for a third or subsequent offense at the same location within a twenty-four (24) month period. In addition, after the third offense, the license shall be suspended for not less than seven (7) days. B. Other Individuals. Other individuals, other than minors regulated by Section C of this subsection, found to be in violation of this ordinance shall be charged an administrative fee of $50.00. C. Minors. Minors found in unlawful possession of, or who unlawfully purchase or attempt to purchase, tobacco, tobacco products, or tobacco related devices, shall be required to attend a diversion or educational program. D. Misdemeanor. Nothing in this section shall prohibit the City from seeking prosecution as a misdemeanor for any violation of this ordinance. 5.302(14) EXCEPTIONS AND DEFENSES. Nothing in this ordinance shall prevent the providing of tobacco, tobacco products, or tobacco related devices to a minor as part of a lawfully recognized religious, spiritual, or cultural ceremony. It shall be an affirmative defense to the violation of this ordinance for a person to have reasonably relied on proof of age as described by State law. 5.302(15) SEVERABILITY AND SAVINGS CLAUSE. If any section or portion of this ordinance shall be found unconstitutional or otherwise invalid or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, that finding shall not serve as an invalidation or effect the validity and enforceability of any other section or provision of this ordinance. First Reading: Second Reading: Roll call: April 26, 1998 May 11, 1998 All ayes Offered by: Seconded by: Roll call: Szurek Peterson All ayes