Three stores in Truckee were caught selling tobacco products to people younger than 18.

The Truckee Police Department in conjunction with the Nevada County Tobacco Use Prevention Project conducted an under-age tobacco purchase operation in Truckee on 17 locations.

Citations were issued to the responsible clerks in each of the three stores that sold tobacco products to the juveniles. The three store locations included the Union 76 gas station at 10041 Donner Pass Road, the 7-Eleven store at 11400 Donner Pass Road, and Z Marketplace at 12716 Northwoods Blvd.

The two agencies had conducted a non-enforcement under-age tobacco purchase operation in July. In the July operation, no enforcement action was taken and each store location was sent a letter advising of their compliance after the operation. The purpose of the July operation was that of a survey to determine the level of compliance of local merchants in verifying the age of the purchaser before selling tobacco products.

People under the age of 18 years are not allowed to purchase tobacco products in California. When the age of the purchaser is in question merchants should check identification.

Police officers will conduct periodic future tobacco operations and take enforcement action as appropriate.

— Lake Tahoe News staff report