The two Bismarck Police Department school resource officers decided Tuesday it was time to crack down on young smokers.

A few hours later they'd caught a dozen offenders in their first enforcement effort this year.

"It was the beginning of the school year and we wanted to set the tone," Perry Lauer said. "Let them know it's not OK to smoke."

Lauer and Jeff Azure came up with the enforcement plan Tuesday. Their idea emulated the technique they use for catching underage drinkers - undercover officers in unmarked cars cruise the streets and radio patrol cars when they spot someone who appears to be a juvenile and is smoking a cigarette.

Unlike alcohol enforcement, the police force had no federal or state grants to rely on. Instead, they worked with what was on staff. Lauer, Azure and a volunteer went undercover and the on-duty patrol staff backed them up.

A dozen boys and girls between 15 and 17 were cited for smoking, Bismarck Police Sgt. Mark Buschena said. The stops were made throughout the day - before school, at lunch and after school - at numerous hangouts near the high schools. Offenders are fined $75 and are required to attend a smoking class.

Lauer said they've worked to curb underage smoking in the past but this was their first major effort. They plan to continue the special enforcement, and if it works they'll do it more often.

"We want to make a good, clean environment for kids to go to school," Lauer said.

(Reach reporter Mike Albrecht at 250-8261 or cops@ndonline.com.)