Tobacco sting baffles Brister
By JIMMY GALVAN Managing Editor

When Jasper Police DARE officer Wanda Brister conducted her latest tobacco sting operation of Jasper businesses, she expected a good report.

"I was very disappointed because there are a couple of them that I don't worry about," Brister said. "I can see that I need to test them more often now."

Brister said four of the seven stores that were tested sold tobacco products to the underage person that entered the store.

"One of them even gave him a package as well," Brister said. "He came out with two packages of products and I asked him why and he said they just gave me the other one. So he not only sold to a minor but he gave him one as well."

Brister said when the sting operations are conducted, the participants are not allowed to carry any identification with them.

"That way when they ask for ID, they tell them no because I don't want them to lie to them and they are instructed to buy only one tobacco package," Brister said.

Of the four stores that sold tobacco products to the minor, Brister said none of them asked for any form of identification.

"That is one of the saddest things there is that they need to get used to asking no matter who it is," Brister said.

She said a couple of the major chains in the community have implemented a program that when a tobacco product is sold, it is required to add a driver's license number before the sale can be completed.

"That is exceptional because that means they have to look at their license no matter what," Brister said. "I just wish all the convenience stores had that as well."

She said that two of the four stores caught in the latest operation, she had reports filed that they had been selling to underage customers.

"That is why I targeted these stores," Brister said. "Everything has been fantastic because our judge has fined these stores the maximum. Legally, they can be fined up to $500."

Brister conducts inspections on the area stores regularly but added she may need to step up the amount of stings.

"These stores did so well the last time that this really is disappointing," Brister said.