Community
Decoy Operation Probes Tobacco Sales Compliance in Petaluma
On Sunday, 10/12/2025, Petaluma PD initiated a decoy operation tasked with conducting compliance checks of tobacco and tobacco product vendors within the City of Petaluma. The efforts were in part funded by the County of Sonoma Department of Health Services via a grant. During the operation, teenaged adult decoys, directed and supervised by PPD officers, visited nineteen (19) tobacco retail licensed businesses. The decoys attempted to purchase tobacco products from each vendor. A total of two (2) vendors sold tobacco products to the underage decoys.
The purpose of these operations is to encourage tobacco retailers to check identifications and refuse to sell tobacco products to minors and partner with our community to help keep California youth safe.
Decoy operations have been conducted by local law enforcement throughout the state since the 1980’s. When the program first began, the violation rate of retail establishments selling to minors was as high as 40 to 50 percent. When conducted on a routine basis, the rate has dropped in some cities as low as 10 percent or even below. The latest violation rate state-wide is approximately 14 percent of retail licensees selling to minors.
In 1994, the California Supreme Court ruled unanimously that the use of underage decoys is a valid tool of law enforcement to ensure that liquor and tobacco licensees are complying with the law.
Media inquiries may be directed at Lt. Zilverio Rivera at [email protected] or phone 707-781-1277
Decoy Operation Probes Tobacco Sales Compliance in Petaluma 
Incident: Decoy Operation Probes Tobacco Sales Compliance in Petaluma
Occurred Date : Sunday, October 12, 2025
Location: Petaluma
Incident Summary
On Sunday, 10/12/2025, Petaluma PD initiated a decoy operation tasked with conducting compliance checks of tobacco and tobacco product vendors within the City of Petaluma. The efforts were in part funded by the County of Sonoma Department of Health Services via a grant. During the operation, teenaged adult decoys, directed and supervised by PPD officers, visited nineteen (19) tobacco retail licensed businesses. The decoys attempted to purchase tobacco products from each vendor. A total of two (2) vendors sold tobacco products to the underage decoys.
The purpose of these operations is to encourage tobacco retailers to check identifications and refuse to sell tobacco products to minors and partner with our community to help keep California youth safe.
Decoy operations have been conducted by local law enforcement throughout the state since the 1980’s. When the program first began, the violation rate of retail establishments selling to minors was as high as 40 to 50 percent. When conducted on a routine basis, the rate has dropped in some cities as low as 10 percent or even below. The latest violation rate state-wide is approximately 14 percent of retail licensees selling to minors.
In 1994, the California Supreme Court ruled unanimously that the use of underage decoys is a valid tool of law enforcement to ensure that liquor and tobacco licensees are complying with the law.
Media inquiries may be directed at Lt. Zilverio Rivera at [email protected] or phone 707-781-1277
Address/Location
Petaluma Police Department
969 Petaluma Blvd N
Petaluma, CA 94952
Contact
Emergency: 9-1-1
Non-emergencies: 707-778-4372