"We have eight kids, ages 15 to 17, who will attempt to purchase cigarettes at establishments in our community under my supervision," said Hermitage police officer Sherryl Giles, a school resource officer for the department.

"If they are not able to purchase them, that's great. But if they are, we will cite the individual who sells them, and the business owner could get cited as well," she said. "There will be no warnings."

The officer and teens will be visiting about 12 establishments starting Monday in Hermitage every three months for the next six months.

"They may be the same places or not," Ms. Giles said. "If we find a problem at one or two places, we may go back to them."

The grant comes from the state health department's Division of Tobacco Control and Prevention and provides the department with about $600 every three months, or about $45 per visit to an establishment.

"The goal here is to not have these juveniles be able to purchase them," she said.

Results of the cigarette purchase attempts will be publicized.