All retail establishments shall be open to inspection by the Police Department or other delegated law enforcement officers or agencies during regular business hours. From time to time, but at least twice per year, a law enforcement officer shall conduct compliance checks to ensure compliance with the provisions of this chapter. Compliance checks shall utilize, with the written consent of their parents or guardians, minors over the age of 15 years, as well as other individuals under 21 years of age, to enter the retail establishments to attempt to purchase licensed products. Persons used for the purpose of compliance checks shall be supervised by designated law enforcement officers. Persons used for compliance checks shall not be guilty of the unlawful purchase or attempted purchase, or the unlawful possession of licensed products when such items are obtained as part of a compliance check. No person used in compliance checks shall attempt to use a false identification misrepresenting the person’s age, and all persons lawfully engaged in a compliance check shall truthfully answer all questions about the person’s age asked by the licensee or employee thereof and shall produce any identification, if any exists, for which he or she is asked. Nothing in this chapter shall prohibit other compliance checks authorized by state or federal laws for educational, research, or training purposes, or required for the enforcement of a particular state or federal law.
(Ord. 480, passed 11-25-1996; Am. Ord. 662, passed 11-28-2016; Am. Ord. 691, passed 8-26-2019)