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Show Juvenile Judge Blames Tobacco Use for Delinquency Problems By Sterling R. Bossard Juvenile Judge In the Juvenile court we find many of our delinquency problems pro-blems begin when juveniles start to use tobacco. In almost ! every instance where a child has school problems or repeats delinquent behavior, we find that he is a rgular user of tobacco. The average child, as soon as he starts to use tobacco, tobac-co, loses interest in school, that any adult or person who violates these laws by providing pro-viding or in any way furnishes j tobacco to anyone under 19 I years of age, upon conviction shall be fined up to $100.00 or ; imprisonment for up to 60 days. For repeated offenses the penalty is greater. According to the laws of the State of Utah, Sec. 59-18-18, it is compulsory that every person per-son or firm which owns a to- takes up with less desirable companions, and begins to find fault with those in auth-that auth-that he is a regular user of tobacco leads to the use of . alcohol, both of which are un- . lawful. In an effort to help these young people to keep their interest in-terest in their education and desire to have acceptable companions com-panions and to prevent disrespect disres-pect for authority, the juvenile court Is asking the coperation of all agencies, the home, the school, police and the citizens. cit-izens. This can and will be iutvu iiiuv.iiiiic, oiiaii juoi unu maintain on each machine a decal of not loss than 6 by 3 inches which shall contain the chase by, or possession by, or the following: "Warning: Pur. chase By, or Possession By, or sale to a person under 19 years of age, of tobacco products is a violation of Utah Code Annotated An-notated 1953." The mere fact that such notice no-tice is posted does not relieve the proprietor of his responsibility res-ponsibility to make sure no person under 19 obtains or has possession of tobacco from or In his place of business. If the citizenry ot our communities com-munities will cooperate with the Juvenile Court in enforcing enforc-ing these laws, we will be able to help our youth to grow and develop into well educated educa-ted and lawabiding citizens. The Juvenile Court intends to prosecute adults to the full ex-tent ex-tent of the law when referred to the court. Children under 18 years of age referred to the court for using or possession of tobacco will be handled in such a manner that they will realize that they cannot af- aone ii everyone win reier to the Juvenile Court any and every child under the age of 18 who is seen smoking or who has tobacco in his or her possession. pos-session. Also anyone who observes ob-serves any child under 18 years of age purchasing tobacco tobac-co from a store or a vending machine, should refer not only the juvenile but also the proprietor pro-prietor of the establishment where the tobacco is purchas- cd. .. . The lay is very specific regarding re-garding the purchase, possession posses-sion or use of tobacco by those under 19 years of age. Sec. 76-42-5 of the Utah Code provides, pro-vides, "Any person under the age of 19 years who buys, accepts, ac-cepts, or has in his or her pos-.aMskm pos-.aMskm any cigar, cigarette, or tobacco in any form is guilty of a misdemeanor, or shall be termed a delinquent child, as the case may be." :Sec. 76-42-4 provides, "Any .person who sells, gives or ford to use tobacco until they are of age to do so. We will use stiff fines and long work assignments to help curb the use of tobacco by our youth. We ask the coperation of all citizens and agencies. Any parent who allows his child to have possession of or use tobacco, will be handled by our court for contributing to the deliquency of juveniles. Ifurnishes any cigar, cigarette, or tobacco in any form, to any person under 19 years of age is guilty of a misdemeanor." The law regarding cigarette vending machines is very specific spec-ific and places the proprietor of any business establishment in which a tobacco vending machine is located in a very responsible position. Sec. 59-18-18 of the Utah Code provides, pro-vides, "(a) Any person who maintains in his place of business bus-iness a tobacco vending machine ma-chine accessible to persons under the age of 19 or provides any method of self-help for the disposition to persons under un-der the age of 19 by gift, sale or otherwise of any cigarettes or cigarette paper or wrapper, or any paper made or prepared prepar-ed for the nurnnsp of making cigarettes or tobacco in any form whatsoever, is guilty of a misdemeanor. Cigarette vending ven-ding machines shall be deem- ed accessible to persons under the age of 19 except where they are in locations where ; persons under the age of 19 are prohibited; where the ma- ;chine can be operated only by the owner or his employee, either directly or through a remote control device which "is Inaccessible to the customer and must be operated for each sale ..." The law further provides |