TOBACCO LAWS PREVENT FUTURE PROBLEMS

Strict enforcement of the tobacco laws related to minors serves several
purposes. An emphasis is placed on the risky behavior. When a young person
starts using tobacco products, the greater opportunity he or she has to
develop a tobacco addiction, with its subsequent health problems. In some
incidences, a tobacco citation is a parent's first knowledge the child is
using an addictive drug. This can be an opportunity to screen for alcohol
and other drug use, and provide early intervention and treatment.

Underage use of tobacco and alcohol is illegal. Young people selectively
ignore the law because parents and other adults allow illegal and unsafe
behaviors out of ignorance of the law, lack of education about health
issues, or under the guise of "rite of passenger." Without a penalty, there
is no incentive to obey the law.

Police provide the consequences and impose the boundaries that parents are
afraid or reluctant to set.

At this time, a first-time violator will receive a warning letter from the
Department of Juvenile Justice with a referral to a tobacco education
program. Subsequent violations, or a tobacco violation in conjunction with
alcohol or drugs, will be dealt with differently.

Training police to enforce the underage drinking and tobacco laws is not an
arcane science. It is primarily a review of procedures, as well as
enforcement strategies. Current training emphasizes the correlation between
use and abuse of alcohol, tobacco, and illegal drugs and the increased
calls for police services for drunk driving, loud parties, domestic
violence, suicide, drowning and rape.

The Frederick Police Department has been a leader in the state for writing
tobacco citations. However, all law enforcement agencies in Frederick
County, especially the Sheriff's Office, are enforcing the underage alcohol
and tobacco laws aggressively. At this pace, Frederick County may soon lead
the state in underage tobacco and alcohol enforcement.

Jean Byrd, Frederick