Joliet cracks down on illegal vaping sales to underage buyers

Joliet officials are calling attention to youth vaping and a city crackdown on illegal sales to underaged buyers as the start of the school year draws near.

Mayor Terry D’Arcy was joined by school officials and the police chief at a City Hall press conference Tuesday where they pointed to health issues connected to vaping and e-cigarettes.

“We’ve got some critical information that we think will help us stomp out a problem in our community – a problem in many communities,” D’Arcy said.

Joliet officials have conducted more than seven sting operations at city vape shops since being alerted in September 2023 of one store known to be selling to underaged buyers.

“Listen to the medical professionals and school leaders, and teach our kids about the long-term, harmful effect of these products.”

—  Terry D'Arcy, mayor of Joliet

In that time, 37 businesses have been cited for 47 violations.

One business, Out of Space Vapes at 232 S. Larkin Ave., had its license to sell tobacco products revoked after being cited for three violations in one year.

It is illegal to sell tobacco products to anyone under the age of 21. Vaping and e-cigarettes are included in the tobacco age restriction.

“We all must be vigilant in protecting our youth,” Joliet Township High School District 204 Superintendent Karla Guseman said.

Guseman called D’Arcy a year ago about the store that provoked the city sting operations after the school district got complaints from parents.

“Our message to those who sell tobacco products is clear. If you sell to minors, you will be caught and you will face the consequences.”

—  Bill Evans, Joliet chief of police

At the press conference, she presented numbers showing that the substance abuse offices in District 204 received 176 referrals for vaping last school year while the office at Joliet Grade School District 86 received 30 referrals.

According to Guseman’s numbers, 17.5% of school district vape users start at age 13.

School in Joliet is scheduled to resume Monday.

Police Chief William Evans referred to a 2021 study by the National Institute of Drug Abuse that he said found that young people who use vape products are more likely in the future to use alcohol, street drugs and prescription drugs.

“Our message to those who sell tobacco products is clear,” Evans said. “If you sell to minors, you will be caught and you will face the consequences.”

In Joliet, businesses can be fined up to $1,000 for a first violation. A second violation within 12 months is subject to fines up to $2,500. A third violation can carry a fine up to $5,000.

Licenses can be revoked for repeated or severe violations. Licenses can also be suspended up to 30 days for violations.

State Sen. Meg Loughran Cappel, D-Shorewood, joined the press conference to talk about Senate Bill 3098, which was signed into law on Friday and takes effect Jan. 1.

The new law makes online sales of vaping products to minors illegal in Illinois.

“The internet has made it very easy for kids to access vapes,” Loughran Cappel said.

D’Arcy said the city is doing what it can to make it tougher for young people to get vaping products.

The city has set up a vaping tip line where people can report businesses believed to be selling to underaged customers. The phone number is 815-486-1053. The email address is Vapetips@joliet.gov.

In Joliet, the mayor as liquor commission also oversees licenses issued to businesses that sell tobacco products.

“Listen to the medical professionals and school leaders, and teach our kids about the long-term, harmful effect of these products,” D’Arcy said.

Vaping or e-cigarettes are considered less harmful than actual tobacco cigarettes but still unsafe because they involve the inhalation of nicotine.

While cigarette smokers may use vaping as an alternative to smoking or as a means to quit altogether, speakers at the press conference said research shows young people who vape are more likely to later become cigarette smokers.

Guseman said vaping in school has replaced smoking cigarettes, which are easier to detect. Vaping devices can come in the form of erasers, pencil sharpeners and highlighters.

“Vaping has become a problem,” she said, “even with the fire alarms going off.”