Between now and mid-February the Jasper County Sheriff’s Department will receive some reimbursement for the cost of compliance checks on retailers to make sure they are abiding by the State’s tobacco, alternative nicotine and vapor product laws. This week, at the recommendation of Sheriff John Halferty, the County Board of Supervisors again approved participation in the annual I-PLEDGE Tobacco, Alternative Nicotine and Vapor Product Enforcement Program. The program is run through the State’s Alcoholic Beverages Division.

That’s Sheriff Halferty. Most of the compliance checks are done with the help of a paid underage volunteer who is at least 16 years old. By March 15th the Sheriff’s Department must do a second check on any retailer initially found non-compliant with the law.