MIAMI TWP. — Police are taking some extra steps in the next 45 days to try to make back-to-school a little safer in Miami Township — by discouraging store clerks from selling alcohol to minors.

        Police will send 18-, 19- and 20-year-olds into 44 establishments that sell or serve alcohol to test whether clerks check for identification.

        And if they don't, the clerk will get a court summons and could face up to a $500 fine.

        Stores that have repeated violations can be brought before the state Liquor Control Board and face administrative action.

        “It's not going to be confrontational in any way,” said Miami Township Police Lt. Steve Rogers. “We'll send them into the store with money to buy alcohol. If the clerk asks for ID, the teen will say they don't have it. And that's the end of it.”

        Lt. Rogers, who has supervised these operations in the township for three years, has already sent letters to the establishments with liquor licenses explaining what will happen and giving them a time frame.

        But even with the warning, he expects some clerks will sell to the teens.

        “We've seen one where they've had our letters posted next to their license and they still sell,” he said. “That's a rarity, but it happens. Most of our stores are very good.”

        Since the township started conducting the controlled buys quarterly, Lt. Rogers has seen a decrease in the number of stores in violation. But underage drinking continues to be a problem. The department has made more than 100 arrests for underage drinking in the last 90 days.

        “Three years ago, when we did this, I was amazed as to how easy it was for underage people to buy alcohol,” he said. “It's gotten a lot better.”

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