The Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office has announced it is partnering with the Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division (Iowa ABD) by pledging to keep tobacco out of the hands of under-aged local youth.

According to the Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office, the “Iowa Pledge” is used to educate local retailers and more diligently enforce Iowa’s tobacco laws.  The pledge program began back in 2000, and it has helped increase statewide tobacco compliance to a rate of 93%.

Guthrie County Deputies will be conducting compliance checks on local establishments as part of the pledge program by sending underage customers into establishments to try and buy tobacco products.  If a clerk makes an illegal sale, he/she will be cited on the spot.

A first offense citation for selling tobacco to a minor is a $100 fine.  A second offense draws a $250 fine, while a third offense results in a $500 fine.

The Guthrie County Sheriff’s Department says that it is not their intent to hand out citations now  that they have taken the “Iowa Pledge,” rather the department simply wishes to “help keep tobacco out of the hands of Iowa’s youth.”