New Tobacco Retailer License Requirement Likely Coming to Salinas, Calif.

While the final vote won’t be taken until after the new year, it appears that tobacco retailers in Salinas, Calif. will soon be required to obtain a new license if they want to stay in business, a license that will cost them $286.

The Salinas City Council held a public hearing on the matter Tuesday night when the ordinance was formally introduced. The Salinas Californian reports that the proposal drew a full house, with the majority of the public in attendance speaking in favor of the license requirement.

Two council members opposed the idea, saying that it would levy an unfair financial imposition on business owners. The Salinas Valley Chamber of Commerce also opposed the proposed requirement.

Should a retailer fail to have a license, they could face a fine of $1,000 for the first offense and $2,000 for a second violation.

Three other cities in the county–Monterey, Carmel and Pacific Grove–already have similar licensing requirements in place, while more than 100 other cities and towns across the state have them.

The final vote on the matter could come as soon as Jan. 6.

Salinas is located in Monterey County, just over 100 miles south of San Francisco. It had a 2013 population estimate of 155,662 residents.