Salinas city officials have approved an ordinance that would reduce the accessibility of tobacco products for minors. The law will require over 130 stores in the city to pay $286 annually for a tobacco license. Officials say the fee will help the county conduct more inspections and fine stores caught selling to minors, which will cost businesses $1,000 for the first violation and $2,000 for the second. Other Monterey County cities including Carmel, Monterey, and Pacific Grove have similar tobacco ordinances.
