7 of 9 businesses sell vaping products illegally in Celina, police say

CELINA — Celina police are issuing a stern warning to city businesses after an undercover operation found seven of nine businesses illegally selling vaping products to underage consumers.

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“These tobacco laws are in place for the health and welfare of our youth and are taken seriously by the Celina Police Department,” Celina police said. “We will continue do compliance checks. They will be done with more frequency and repeat violators will likely face arrest and incarceration.”

The following businesses had an employee sell vaping products to an underage person:

• Marathon Gas on North Main Street
• Celina Sunoco on East Market Street
• Docksiders Marathon on South Main Street
• Dockside Marathon on East Market Street
• Lester’s Tobacco Shack on East Market Street
• Grand Lake Vapor on South Main Street
• Epic Vapes on Havemann Road

The police department conducted the compliance checks of the businesses last week by using an adult employee of the department under the age of 21 to make the purchase.

“These were done as a result of ongoing complaints from citizens of local businesses selling the products to underage persons,” police said.

Two businesses, Eastown Party Mart on Grand Lake Road and Celina Party Mart on South Main, were found to be in compliance.

Charges were filed against all seven clerks who are accused of selling the products illegally and they were summonsed into court.

The charges are misdemeanors, however repeat violators would likely result in an arrest.

Cox Media Group