By Khalida Sarwari
Tobacco retailers in Campbell will see stricter regulations after the city council approved a tobacco retailer permit allowing the city to address tobacco sales violations more efficiently than the state.
The 4-1 decision to approve the permit was made at a Nov. 20 council meeting; it will cost retailers an annual fee of $50. Councilman Jeff Cristina dissented, stating that while he agrees with having such a permit in place, he does not support the idea of taxing retailers.
“If you look at the number of companies selling tobacco and the number who were selling to underage [kids], it’s a very small percentage, yet this cost is put on every business that’s following the rules,” said Cristina.
Currently, nearly 50 businesses in Campbell sell tobacco. Each will now be required to apply annually for the local permit in order to sell tobacco products. Up until this point, retailers were required only to have a tobacco retailer permit from the state, but many jurisdictions have begun implementing local regulatory control over tobacco sales due to a limited number of state inspectors.
Proponents of the permit say it will keep retailers in check as it will give the city authority to suspend tobacco sales and fine any business that sells to minors. The city can also revoke the permit from businesses that rack up multiple violations and add administrative and or criminal penalties for other violations.
The permit follows on the heels of an ordinance council members adopted last year that prohibits smoking in outdoor dining areas and public parks.
The new regulations were were modeled after similar ones adopted by neighboring jurisdictions, including Santa Clara County and the cities of San Jose and Saratoga, Campbell city associate planner Steve Prosser told the council. The Campbell Police Department also performs one or two undercover stings a year targeting about one-third of the establishments. This year, one such operation resulted in one violation out of 18 establishments where a decoy attempted to buy cigarettes.
During the public comment period, a Prospect High School student asked Prosser whether similar ordinances have worked effectively in other cities. Prosser said that such policies provide “effective local control of businesses that continually violate those regulations.
“We’re seeing a faster response to the businesses that are violating those regulations,” he said.
Campbell’s finance department will issue the permit, which is expected to generate $2,400 annually for the city’s general fund.
Retailers that sell tobacco products will pay a $50 annual fee for permit
