One-third of Richmond’s vape shops have not been inspected
VENN
RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — About a third of almost 100 vape shops in Richmond have not yet been inspected, according to city officials.
Richmond Police Department provided an update on the city's "Operation Vaporize" to crack down on illegal activity at vape shops across the city at the first quarter crime briefing on Thursday. City leaders began inspections of these businesses late last year, before announcing the effort in December.
As of March 31, the initiative has shut down 42 vape shops and cited more than 90 violations, drawing pushback from Yemeni-American vape shop owners who said their community was disproportionately impacted.
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Per city statistics, inspections have now resumed for about a third of nearly 100 vape shops in Richmond. As of Thursday, officials inspected six locations and provided the following information:
- Five were placarded or closed due to safety violations
- Five did not have business licenses
- Two did not have certificates of occupancy
- Three had suspected marijuana, with over 3 pounds seized
- All six had fire code violations totaling 44 violations
