Bad dogs who sell cigarettes receive obedience training via snail mail

More than 100 teens recently posed as secret agents in a tobacco-sting operation run out of the Arizona Attorney General’s Office. Arizona law prohibits retailers from selling cigarettes to minors. Merchants who were identified by the teenage undercover agents for illegally selling tobacco were labeled as “bad dogs” and their names were referred to adminstration officials. Based on the performance reports, the Attorney General’s Office sent "bad dog letters" to retailers who sold cigarettes illegally and "good dog letters" to those who refused to sell to teenagers. Those retailers who were cited with the "bad dog" crimes were charged with a petty offense punishable by a maximum fine of $300. Public shame was also used as punishment. The Attorney General printed newspaper ads that identified the retailers who sold tobacco to teenagers in the sting operation. The ads also gave “kudos” to retailers who complied with the law.