"Since 1993 Texas STEP has provided direct training to more than 5,250 officers and educators, who in turn have provided tobacco compliance education and materials to over 8.1 million Texans around the state, with 5.4 million of those being school-aged youth. 

These participating law enforcement officers have educated another 15,000 officers, over 37,000 tobacco retailers, conducted more than 70,000 tobacco "stings" and 80,000 compliance inspections of tobacco retailers since the passage of Senate Bill #55 (75th Leg).

The reward of this diligence in education and enforcement reveals itself as Texas' violation rates regarding underage sales of tobacco stand at 10.5%, far less than the 20% federal performance standard mandated under the Synar Amendment of 1992."

- H.M. Hancock, Director of Texas STEP