What to do if I see underage smokers?
Earlier today, I was riding my bicycle on my local trail. I was riding over a bridge which goes over a creek, and I decided to go down to look at the creek because there was a pathway. I went down and I saw some 16 year old teenagers fishing and in their bait box, I saw a pack of cigarettes and they soon pulled some out and started smoking. I live in the State of Florida and Florida Statute Chapter 569.11 states that it is unlawful for anybody minor under the age of 18 to knowingly buy, sell, distribute, possess, or use any tobacco substance. I was not sure on what to do because I did not want to call my police department (even the non-emergency number) and bother them with something like this, so I decided to walk up to them, give a couple second lecture, tell them to rip the cigarettes in half and throw them away because they are underage and they are possessing them illegally, and to leave the trail in 5 minutes or I would call the police. Sure enough, they did leave, but what should I have done? Should I have called the police? Would the police department mind if I contacted them about something like this?
Oh, and just to let you know, if I see people breaking the law, I confront them on it. If somebody breaks the law, it’s my business and I have every right to get involved in their business.
Mind your own Business
I hope to god that you used proper hand signals when you stopped your bike or else you would have been breaking the law
Vigilante justice is seldom, if ever, justified. Call the police if you must (they will probably laugh at you), but you have no business trying to enforce the law on your own behalf. Confronting strangers is a good way to get hurt, by the way, when I was a teenager, I probably would have kicked your a**.
You get over it.
Nothing happens if police get involved, they just tell them to stop.
Besides, its their business what they do.
You need a better hobby.
The police wouldn’t have really cared, i know it sucks, but they have so many calls they couldn’t have done much anyhow, you did the right thing, but they problably smoking like a chimney somewhere else, if they”re going to do it, it’ll be hard to stop them unless you are the parent.
First start out by minding your own business. If I was them kids I’d beat the dogsnot out of you just for shdis and giggles. Just because it is the law don’t make it right. I discourage kids from smoking but i don’t narc on them. You need to get a life before you end up losing yours.Someone ain’t always gonna listen to you and do to you what I would have.