The Northeast Regional Cancer Institute in conjunction with the Tobacco Free Northeast PA and the Lackawanna County District Attorney’s office regularly conduct an enforcement initiative to monitor sales of tobacco products to persons under the age of 18. The method used to monitor such sales is to have underage trained youths, supervised by adults, attempt to purchase tobacco products. If your youth has expressed an interest in participating in this initiative. He or she can join other young people from Lackawanna County under age 18 in visiting local tobacco retailers and attempting to purchase tobacco products. Before your child enters the tobacco retailer an officer will enter the store to ensure safety and to witness the compliance check.

What is a compliance check?
A compliance check is an unannounced attempt to purchase tobacco. The compliance check follows established protocol for youth and adults to conduct an enforcement compliance check.

What will my teenager do during the compliance check?
Each child who wishes to participate in the enforcement compliance check program must be between the ages of 15 and 17 and have a signed permission form by their parent or legal guardian. Your child must also attend a training class. This training session will review the enforcement compliance check procedures and a representative from the District Attorney's Office will go over your child’s role in the compliance check.

You will need to drop your child off at the specified location on the specified date and time. From that location, officers will provide transportation to the designated compliance check retail location. Every attempt will be made to choose a location that is not near your child’s neighborhood or school to prevent identification by a store clerk or retail patron.

At all times your child will be accompanied by an officer. This officer will provide guidance prior to entering the tobacco retailer including what brand of tobacco product to request, how to respond if identification is requested, and the safe and secure location that your youth will return to after the tobacco sale attempt. If your child is illegally sold tobacco products he/she will leave the store and hand the product to the second officer. The second officer will issue the citation to the store clerk and tobacco retailer after your youth is in a safe location with an officer. Money to purchase the tobacco products will be provided. Your youth may be asked to testify, if necessary, in any hearings related to the purchase of tobacco products.

How does participation in this compliance check benefit my child?
Your child will be recognized and acknowledged for his/her participation in this program and for their help in making their community safer for youth. Your child will also have first hand experience in seeing how the judicial system operates.

If you have any questions about your child’s role in the enforcement compliance check or local programs aimed at tobacco prevention, second hand smoke, and smoking cessation in Lackawanna County, please contact Stacey Velez, Tobacco Outreach at the Northeast Regional Cancer Institute by calling (570) 941-7984.

Click here to download a Youth Permission Form
Click here to download a Underage Buyer Form