The Minot Police Department has released the results of a tobacco compliance enforcement operation conducted in August.

The operation was conducted to ensure licensed businesses were properly checking identification to prevent the sale of tobacco products to minors. Checks were conducted at 50 establishments and were checked randomly throughout August. A total of 46 businesses passed their compliance checks, while four were found in violation. Two of the establishments received their second offense within the past year.

According to the MPD, tobacco compliance failures in Minot are typically rare, especially to occur at the same retail locations and by the same clerk. Minot ordinances assess penalties to clerks of $50 for a first offense, $150 for a second offense and $300 for any further violations.

Businesses found to have violated the ordinance receive a $100 civil fine for a first offense in a calendar year, a seven-day tobacco license suspension for a second, a 30-day suspension for a third and a one-year suspension for a fourth.

The Minot Police Department encourages all businesses to provide adequate training to employees who are likely to sell tobacco and alcohol-related products to avoid sales to underage individuals.