(Spirit Lake)– The Spirit Lake Police Department once again will be participating in an initiative to keep tobacco, alternative nicotine and vapor products out of the hands of those who are underage.
The I-PLEDGE program has been in existence since 2000 and is a partnership with the Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division. It puts an emphasis on retailer training. Clerks who successfully complete an online training course and pass an exam will become I-PLEDGE certified. That, in turn, allows a retail establishment to use an affirmative defense against a civil penalty if the certified clerk makes an illegal sale.
As part of the program, Spirit Lake police will also be conducting compliance checks on local establishments utilizing underage customers.
