The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports they’ve taken a pledge to keep tobacco out of the hands of Montgomery County youth.  Iowa Pledge (“I-Pledge” for short) is a partnership with the Iowa Alcoholic Beverage Division (ABD) to educate local retailers, and to enforce Iowa’s tobacco laws. Officials say the program has helped increase statewide tobacco compliance to a rate of 93-percent since it began in the year 2000. By partnering with the ABD, the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office says it will do its part to continue the upward trend.

Clerks who successfully complete an online training program and pass an exam, will be I-pledge certified, and the retail establishment will receive an affirmative defense against a civil penalty, of the certified clerk makes an illegal sale. To take the training, or search I-Pledge certification records, go to http://ipocp.iowaabd.com:8080/portal.

Officials say the I-Pledge retailer program is a great way for clerks to prepare themselves to refuse illegal tobacco sales. As part of the I-Pledge program, deputies will be conducting compliance checks on local establishments. Criminal penalties resulting from the sale of tobacco to a minor during the unannounced checks using underage customers, include fines from $100 for the first offense, to as much as $500 for the third and subsequent offenses.

Sheriff Joe Sampson says handing out citations is not the intent of the I-Pledge program. He says the hope is to educate clerks and maintain a compliant retail environment in communities within Montgomery County. More importantly, according to Sampson, is the “Pledge to help keep tobacco out of the hands of Iowa youth.”