County to discuss raising age limit for tobacco sales

The Suffolk County Legislature is scheduled to hold a public hearing Tuesday to discuss raising the legal age for tobacco sales to 21.

The bill, sponsored by Legislator William Spencer (D-Huntington), aims to discourage young people from starting to smoke cigarettes.

The restriction would also apply to the sale of electronic cigarettes.

In 2004, Suffolk passed legislation to raise the legal age to 19. It was one of the first municipalities in the country to do so.

Violators could face a fine between $300 and $1,000 for a first time offense, and between $500 to $1,500 for subsequent offenses, according to the resolution.

If approved, the countywide law would go into effect on Jan. 1, 2015.

The public hearing is scheduled to start at 2:30 p.m. in the Rose Caracappa Legislative Auditorium in Hauppauge.

Scroll down to view the draft law.

Suffolk County proposed law to raise the legal age to 21 for tobacco purchases.