January 24, 2023 |
The Town of Encampment has updated its tobacco sales ordinance to be in line with state law.
During the November 10th meeting of the Encampment Town Council, Town Clerk Doreen Harvey said changes to state and federal legislation necessitated a review of their tobacco regulations. Harvey said the council needed to update town ordinance 5.08, titled Tobacco Sales.
Pictured above: File photo of Encampment Town Hall. Photo by Bigfoot 99.
In December of 2019, the federal government increased the minimum age to purchase tobacco products from 18 to 21. On March 13th of 2020, Wyoming governor Mark Gordon signed bill SF0050 into law. The “nicotine products-lawful age and penalties” bill went into effect on July 1st of the same year.
Harvey said Encampment police chief, Kevin Shue, brought the outdated ordinances to her attention. The Encampment clerk explained why it took so long for the town to update their rules.
According to copies of the ordinance obtained by Bigfoot 99, most of the changes are focused on increasing the age restriction on tobacco sales to meet the federal minimum. The town has also increased the first-time penalty for a business selling tobacco products to an underage person from $50 to $100. Subsequent violations remain the same.
