El Cajon won’t increase penalties for tobacco retailers who sell to minors

City leaders on Tuesday shot down an ordinance that would have increased penalties for tobacco retailers who sell to minors.

The proposal would have added a five-day suspension of tobacco sales for the first violation, increased the suspension period for a third violation from 60 days to 90 days and increased the suspension for a third violation from 120 days to 150 days.

It also would have increased the monitoring period for violators from 36 months to 48 months.

“We’re asking businesses for perfection and I don’t know if that’s ever going to be possible,” Councilmember Phil Ortiz said. “I think this (would) put an undue burden on businesses.”

A large group of local convenience and smoke shop owners attended the council meeting to express their opposition to the proposal, which many described as being too strict.

Arkan Somo, a co-founder of the Neighborhood Market Association, said La Mesa’s current penalties have served their purpose and an increase would be hard on local business owners.

He asked city leaders, “What message are you giving to these family-owned businesses in your community as they try so hard to comply with the law you enacted?”

The city’s current code for violations requires a $2,500 fine for the first violation, an automatic 60-day suspension of tobacco sales and fine for a second violation within any 36-month period and an automatic 120-day suspension and fine for a third violation within a 36-month per...