Editing Openai/67bf8528-f2b8-8002-85a0-0cfcb5bcc53c (section)

==== Underage Tobacco/Vaping Laws in Michigan (Northwestern Lower Peninsula Focus) ====

Michigan’s Youth Tobacco Act makes it illegal for anyone under 21 to purchase, possess, or use tobacco products, vapor products (e-cigarettes), or alternative nicotine productslegislature.mi.gov<ref>{{cite web|title=legislature.mi.gov|url=https://www.legislature.mi.gov/Laws/MCL?objectName=mcl-722-641#:~:text=,is%20subject%20to%20criminal%20penalties|publisher=legislature.mi.gov|access-date=2025-11-30}}</ref>dhd10.org<ref>{{cite web|title=dhd10.org|url=https://www.dhd10.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/DHD10_PressRelease_VapingConsequences_3.9.20.pdf#:~:text=With%20the%20new%20Tobacco%2021,education%20on%20health%20risks%2C%20and|publisher=dhd10.org|access-date=2025-11-30}}</ref>. In practical terms, a minor caught with cigarettes or a vape in Michigan can face:
* Fines: Up to $50 per violation (usually a small civil fine)dhd10.org<ref>{{cite web|title=dhd10.org|url=https://www.dhd10.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/DHD10_PressRelease_VapingConsequences_3.9.20.pdf#:~:text=With%20the%20new%20Tobacco%2021,education%20on%20health%20risks%2C%20and|publisher=dhd10.org|access-date=2025-11-30}}</ref>.
* Criminal Penalties: Repeat offenses can escalate to a misdemeanor charge (for example, a third vaping offense becomes a misdemeanor)casetext.com<ref>{{cite web|title=casetext.com|url=https://casetext.com/statute/michigan-compiled-laws/chapter-722-children/youth-tobacco-act/section-722642-prohibited-conduct-by-minor-for-tobacco-products-vapor-products-or-alternative-nicotine-products-violation-and-penalties-participation-in-health-promotion-and-risk-reduction-assessment-program-costs-community-service-exceptions-other-violations#:~:text=violation%20of%20subsection%20,3%29%20do%20not%20apply|publisher=casetext.com|access-date=2025-11-30}}</ref>, though first-time violations of vaping laws are treated as state civil infractionscasetext.com<ref>{{cite web|title=casetext.com|url=https://casetext.com/statute/michigan-compiled-laws/chapter-722-children/youth-tobacco-act/section-722642-prohibited-conduct-by-minor-for-tobacco-products-vapor-products-or-alternative-nicotine-products-violation-and-penalties-participation-in-health-promotion-and-risk-reduction-assessment-program-costs-community-service-exceptions-other-violations#:~:text=attempting%20to%20possess%20a%20vapor,The%20court|publisher=casetext.com|access-date=2025-11-30}}</ref>. Traditional tobacco (cigarette) possession has historically been a misdemeanor even on a first offense, but with similarly low finescasetext.com<ref>{{cite web|title=casetext.com|url=https://casetext.com/statute/michigan-compiled-laws/chapter-722-children/youth-tobacco-act/section-722642-prohibited-conduct-by-minor-for-tobacco-products-vapor-products-or-alternative-nicotine-products-violation-and-penalties-participation-in-health-promotion-and-risk-reduction-assessment-program-costs-community-service-exceptions-other-violations#:~:text=proof%20of%20age%20for%20the,ii%29%20Participate%20in%20a|publisher=casetext.com|access-date=2025-11-30}}</ref>. In practice, many jurisdictions handle first offenses informally or as civil infractions to avoid giving a teenager a criminal record.
* Court-Mandated Education/Classes: Judges can order minors to attend a “health promotion and risk reduction” program – essentially a tobacco education or cessation classcasetext.com<ref>{{cite web|title=casetext.com|url=https://casetext.com/statute/michigan-compiled-laws/chapter-722-children/youth-tobacco-act/section-722642-prohibited-conduct-by-minor-for-tobacco-products-vapor-products-or-alternative-nicotine-products-violation-and-penalties-participation-in-health-promotion-and-risk-reduction-assessment-program-costs-community-service-exceptions-other-violations#:~:text=subsection%20,health%20promotion%20and%20risk%20reduction|publisher=casetext.com|access-date=2025-11-30}}</ref>. Completion of a tobacco awareness course (often focusing on the health risks of nicotine) is a common requirement for underage offendersdhd10.org<ref>{{cite web|title=dhd10.org|url=https://www.dhd10.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/DHD10_PressRelease_VapingConsequences_3.9.20.pdf#:~:text=With%20the%20new%20Tobacco%2021,education%20on%20health%20risks%2C%20and|publisher=dhd10.org|access-date=2025-11-30}}</ref>.
* Community Service: Courts may also require community service (e.g. 16 hours for a first offense, up to 48 hours for repeated offenses) as part of the penaltycasetext.com<ref>{{cite web|title=casetext.com|url=https://casetext.com/statute/michigan-compiled-laws/chapter-722-children/youth-tobacco-act/section-722642-prohibited-conduct-by-minor-for-tobacco-products-vapor-products-or-alternative-nicotine-products-violation-and-penalties-participation-in-health-promotion-and-risk-reduction-assessment-program-costs-community-service-exceptions-other-violations#:~:text=subsection%20,health%20promotion%20and%20risk%20reduction|publisher=casetext.com|access-date=2025-11-30}}</ref>casetext.com<ref>{{cite web|title=casetext.com|url=https://casetext.com/statute/michigan-compiled-laws/chapter-722-children/youth-tobacco-act/section-722642-prohibited-conduct-by-minor-for-tobacco-products-vapor-products-or-alternative-nicotine-products-violation-and-penalties-participation-in-health-promotion-and-risk-reduction-assessment-program-costs-community-service-exceptions-other-violations#:~:text=not%20more%20than%20%2450,or%20more%20prior%20judgments%2C%20the|publisher=casetext.com|access-date=2025-11-30}}</ref>. The minor (or their parents) typically must pay any program fees or court costs incurred.

In the Northwestern Lower Peninsula of Michigan, enforcement of these laws aligns with state rules. Local municipalities sometimes have their own ordinances mirroring state law. For example, Traverse City’s code prohibits anyone under 18 from using or possessing tobacco in public and treats the first offense as a civil infraction with a modest finecodelibrary.amlegal.com<ref>{{cite web|title=codelibrary.amlegal.com|url=https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/mason/latest/mason_mi/0-0-0-23417#:~:text=,place%20of%20business%20or%20amusement|publisher=codelibrary.amlegal.com|access-date=2025-11-30}}</ref>. This means a teen caught vaping at a public park in the Grand Traverse area might get a ticket and a required class, rather than a criminal charge. Local health departments and coalitions (e.g. District Health Department #10 and Up North Prevention) partner with schools and courts to provide the mandated education programs. The goal is to correct the behavior through education about addiction and health, rather than to heavily punish the teen. As a result, a minor in, say, Traverse City or Petoskey who violates tobacco laws will likely end up paying a small fine and attending a vaping prevention class – a consequence meant to inform and discourage future usedhd10.org<ref>{{cite web|title=dhd10.org|url=https://www.dhd10.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/DHD10_PressRelease_VapingConsequences_3.9.20.pdf#:~:text=With%20the%20new%20Tobacco%2021,education%20on%20health%20risks%2C%20and|publisher=dhd10.org|access-date=2025-11-30}}</ref>. Jail is not a typical outcome; these are low-level offenses handled in juvenile or district courts, often kept off the youth’s permanent criminal record if they comply with court orders.