Leesburg, VA – Yesterday, the Leesburg Police Department School Resource Officer and Special Investigations Units jointly conducted an underage vaping operation at 29 tobacco retail establishments located in the Town of Leesburg. The operation resulted in four clerks charged with selling tobacco vaping products to customers under the age of 21.
Clerks at the following locations sold to underage buyers:
- Sheetz (601 California Drive NE)
- Jock’s Exxon (104 West Market Street)
- Tobacco King and Vape (345 East Market Street)
- Leesburg Tobacco & Vape (707 East Market Street, Suite G)
The clerks, who range in age from 18 to 57 years old, were each issued a summons charging them with violating Virginia Code Section 18.2-371.2, which prohibits the purchase, possession, and sale of tobacco products, nicotine vapor products, alternative nicotine products, and hemp products intended for smoking to persons under 21 years of age. A violation of this code section is punishable by a civil penalty.
“Operations like these send a clear message to retail establishments in town, that they are responsible for training their staff to properly follow the law to ensure that age-restricted products are only sold to those of legal age,” advised Leesburg Police Captain David Smith. “For this reason, the Leesburg Police Department periodically conducts operations relating to the sale of tobacco products and alcoholic beverages to underage persons.”
The Leesburg Police Department School Resource Officer Unit in partnership with the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office provides education on the dangers of vaping through the D.A.R.E. program to students at both the elementary and middle school level. Parents seeking additional information and resources should talk with their child’s school resource officer. Parents can also visit https://www.cdc.gov/e-cigarettes.
