After a week's deferral, the Wichita City Council unanimously passed amendments to city code to address public health and the sale of tobacco products to minors.
The amendment addresses two items, the first being penalties. A clerk who sells tobacco products to a minor will now receive a warning on the first offense, then will be charged with a Class B misdemeanor for a second offense. The license holder and/or manager could be charged the first time, if they are present for the sale and fail to ask for identification.
The city won't require a certain number of yearly inspections, saying they are not necessary thanks to current enforcement efforts. Because of that, the legislation didn't receive the backing of the American Heart Association. The Tobacco Free Wichita Coalition however did endorse the plan.
Council member Becky Tuttle reminded those watching the purpose of the amendments was prevention of tobacco use.
Under the new plan, the council will receive bi-annual reports on compliance checks broken down by city districts.