Businesses are slow to get on board with a new law in Carbondale that increased the age to buy tobacco and vaping products to 21.
Last summer, Carbondale adopted an ordinance aimed at curbing the use of tobacco and vaping products by young people. Police chief Gene Schilling told the board of trustees this week that the first step is getting local businesses to comply with the new law.
Carbondale police recently completed compliance checks at businesses that sell tobacco products. Four of the 10 retailers failed and were hit with a $1,300 fine. Schilling said he’s planning another round of checks before the end of the year, and the police are working on education efforts, both at retailers and in local schools.
