Jan. 08--HARLINGEN -- Police said they have nabbed nine suspects to date as part of a Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission grant aimed at cracking down on the selling of alcohol to minors.
Harlingen police officials say "Operation Keeping Teens Sober" is not about entrapping store clerks, but making sure the law is being followed at all times.
"Our goal is for persons selling alcohol to be 100 percent compliant and not sell alcoholic beverages to minors," police Capt. Hector Leal, who is in charge of the operation, said.
Every time a sting is planned, a press release is sent to inform businesses that have a license to sell alcohol that random compliance checks will be made, he said.
Leal, who is present at all the stings, said that in one sting, a minor attempted to buy beer from a convenience store. He said the store clerk asked for the teen's ID and when the teen presented his identification card, the clerk merely glanced at it and sold the alcohol to the minor.
"We're not trying to trick anyone," Leal said. "All the teens have IDs with them and are carefully instructed to be honest about their age. And too many times store clerks don't pay attention to the transaction."
Leal said one sting in December yielded 100 percent compliance.
"That was a good day," Leal said. "It means everyone was following the law."
He said the selling of alcohol to minors is a Class A misdemeanor. However, he added, if an investigation reveals minors obtained alcohol through a clerk not following the law, the business involved or the store clerk may face civil and criminal charges if any deaths, injuries or accidents occur, including consequences of drinking and driving.
Police Chief Tom Whitten said police officers involved in "Operation Keeping Teens Sober" are not paid by the department, but through the grant. The $10,000 grant, which is funded from July 2011 to April 2012, is winding down.
"We're not hiding anything, nor trying to entrap anyone," Whitten said. "We follow the law to the dot and are not the only department doing these kinds of operations."
Leal said that of the nine suspects arrested, all cases are currently pending with the District Attorney's office.
He said the stings will continue into April and added that if funding is available for next year, he would approach Whitten about applying for the grant again.
Copyright 2012 - Valley Morning Star, Harlingen, Texas
