On Tuesday, May 28, 2013, the South Gate City Council unannimously approved the introduction of an ordinance that would require local vendors of nitrous oxide (N20) to record specific personal information from buyers.
“We are seeing is a tremendous misuse of this particular gas,” said Raul Salinas, South Gate’s City Attorney. “We want to be one the first cities…to impose the added requirement.”
The additional regulation hopes to more efficiently combat the illegal use of nitrous oxide within city limits.
The new regulation would demand that local vendors retain the record of sale from a purchaser for two years. This record is expected to include the name, age, address, date of purchase and total amount of nitrous oxide acquired by the buyer.
Failure to comply with the new requirement would result in penalties that range from monetary fines to revocation of their business license.
“This particular ordinance is not designed to impede any legitimate sale of nitrous oxide,” said Chief Randy Davis of the South Gate Police Department (SGPD). “The only folks that will be negatively impacted by this are those selling to underage kids.”
Dentists have used nitrous oxide, which is more commonly known as laughing gas, as an anesthetic since the mid-1800’s. The gas is also used in vehicular race, where it allows the engine to burn more fuel, causing a more powerful combustion.
However, nitrous oxide is currently being used by both minors and adults for the purposes of intoxication. Forcing police agencies to crackdown on the illicit use of the substance.
For example, in May 7, 2013, the SGPD along with county and federal agencies raided a local South Gate business as part of a regional nitrous oxide bust operation.
Read more about the bust here.
In Lynwood a three-way collision that left five people injured in March 2013 was blamed on a driver believed to be under the influence of nitrous oxide.
Read more about the crash here.
The South Gate City Council seemed to be in favor of the ordinance.
Some members of the council even cited the illicit use of nitrous oxide by minors as a main concern and reason for support.
“We have seen a lot of teenagers making mistakes with drugs likes these,” said councilmember Jorge Morales. “I think [this ordinance] is much needed.”
The council will consider the ordinance for approval during their regular meeting on June 11, 2013. If the majority approves it, then the restrictions would go into effect in 31 days.
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