Norwalk Municipal Code Ch. 9.26 Ban on Self-Service Tobacco Displays

It is unlawful for any person, business or tobacco retailer to sell, permit to be sold, or offer for sale any tobacco product by means of a self-service display, cigarette vending machine or by any means other than vendor-assisted sales. This prohibition shall not apply to places where no persons under 18 years of age are ever permitted.

(Ord. 1503 § 2, 2000; Ord. 21-1722 § 2)

As used in this chapter:

"Places where no person under 18 years of age is ever permitted"

are businesses, events or sites where existing Federal, State or local law prohibits minors from being present. Such locales include, but are not excluded to, bars, nightclubs and tobacco lounges.

"Self-service display"

is the open display of tobacco products which the public has access to without the intervention of a store employee, including, but not limited to, a rack, shelf or counter-top display.

"Tobacco product"

means any manufactured substance made from the tobacco plant, including, but not limited to, cigarettes, cigars, pipe tobacco, snuff, chewing tobacco and smokeless tobacco, or products prepared from tobacco and designed for smoking or ingestion.

"Vendor-assisted sale"

means a purchase requiring a direct, face-to-face exchange between the retailer and the customer, in which the vendor has access to the tobacco product, and assists the customer by supplying the product. The customer does not take possession of the product until it is purchased.

(Ord. 1503 § 2, 2000; Ord. 21-1722 § 2)

Persons found in violation of this chapter shall be guilty of an infraction and subject to the penalties provided in Section 1.16.010(C).

(Ord. 1503 § 2, 2000; Ord. 21-1722 § 2)