TCSO: Eight cited for selling to minors

Tulare County Sheriff’s Office deputies cited eight store clerks for selling alcohol to minors on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Tulare County Sheriff’s Office deputies cited eight store clerks for selling alcohol to minors on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The actions were the result of a two-night minor decoy operation in which minors, under the direct supervision of deputies, attempted to purchase alcohol from 28 retail licensees in the Three Rivers, Lemon Cove, Woodlake, Ivanhoe, Goshen, Traver, London, Dinuba and Kingsburg areas.

Those who sell to the minors face a minimum fine of $250 and/or 2432 hours of community service for a first violation. In addition, Alcohol Beverage Control will take administrative action against the alcoholic beverage license of the business. That may include a fine, a suspension of the license or the permanent revocation of the license.

Tulare County Sheriff Office personnel in collaboration with Alcohol Beverage Control Agents are conducting the compliance checks to reduce the availability of alcohol to minors. Statistics have shown that young people under the age of 21 have a higher rate of drunken driving fatalities than the general adult population.

This project is part of the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control’s Education and Teen Alcohol Enforcement Program Grant, funded by the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The cases are currently under investigation. Anyone with information is encouraged to call TCSO at 733-6218 or send anonymous information by sending a text or email to Tcso@tipnow. com or call 1-800-TIPNOW.