On Wednesday, September 11, the Ogden Town Board introduced Local Law #5 of 2024, to address the illegal sale of vape and tobacco products at smoke shops and to hold businesses accountable for such violations. If adopted, this law will require all businesses selling tobacco products to obtain a Use Permit. Non-compliant businesses will first receive warnings, and repeated violations could result in the revocation of their right to operate within the town. The law aims to enforce existing regulations and prioritize community safety, particularly for youth.
“We have been collaborating with the Spencerport Central School District to address issues related to student access to vaping products and other paraphernalia. The severity of the problem became evident last year when a group of seniors reported that nearly 40% of their peers were vaping,” said Ogden Town Supervisor Mike Zale. “Conversations with concerned parents revealed that these students were not only accessing harmful substances but were also struggling with addiction and behavioral issues in school.”
While the school district focuses on educational efforts, the town has targeted one of the root causes: illegal sales. An undercover investigation by the Ogden Police Department, in conjunction with other law enforcement agencies, uncovered that some local businesses were not only selling tobacco and vape products to minors but were also distributing marijuana, laced candy, chocolate bars containing mushrooms, and various other substances.
“Following these findings, our police department issued citations to the clerks involved in illegal sales. However, these citations only result in minor infractions and do not hold the businesses accountable,” Zale said. “Our proposed local law, alongside similar initiatives in neighboring communities, represents a significant step toward protecting our children and restricting their access to dangerous substances. It will empower law enforcement and the courts to hold violators accountable and send a strong message across the Rochester region that we will not compromise our kids’ health and safety.”
“Together, we stand firm in our commitment to protect our children from the dangers of vaping, tobacco and substance abuse,” said Spencerport Central School District Superintendent Ty Zinkiewich. “By prioritizing education and enforcement, we are doing everything we can to acknowledge the issue and deter its usage. The proactive efforts of the town of Ogden and Ogden Police Department to establish strict laws against the sale of vapes/tobacco/cannabis to minors will, without a doubt, help to address this public health issue and safeguard the future of our students.”
“The Ogden Police Department remains committed to safeguarding our community’s children, and we are proud to work with various stakeholders to achieve this goal. Through educational programs like DARE and the strict enforcement of existing laws, we continue to do everything in our power to keep drugs, alcohol, tobacco, and e-cigarette products out of the hands of our youth,” said Ogden Police Chief Travis Gray. “However, recent changes in cannabis legislation and bail reform have made it harder to address these issues effectively. By implementing this proposed legislation, we can reduce minors’ access to vaping products and reinforce our community’s commitment to keeping kids safe.”
“The Village of Spencerport fully supports the Town of Ogden’s efforts to mandate Use Permits for all businesses who sell tobacco and vape products to stop the illegal sale of those products and marijuana infused products to children,” said Village of Spencerport Mayor Gary Penders.
The Town Board will hold a public hearing to discuss Local Law #5 on Wednesday, September 25, at 7 p.m. at the Ogden Community Center, 269 Ogden Center Road, Spencerport. A complete copy of the proposed local law is available for review at the Town Clerk’s Office during normal business hours.
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