WHITE PLAINS - Buying cigarettes for a minor could soon land an adult in jail for up to three months if an anti-smoking bill unveiled yesterday becomes law.

The legislation, proposed by County Executive Andrew Spano, aims to make it harder for youths to get tobacco products and includes tighter restrictions on the sale and advertising of cigarettes. It calls for operators of cigarette vending machines to install "lock-out devices" to stop minors from using them. "The bottom line is we want to stop kids from starting to smoke,'' said Susan Tolchin, a spokeswoman for Spano. "If we can do that we are ahead of the game." Tolchin said the bill is part of a comprehensive effort to limit teen smoking that also includes a public education campaign and outreach programs. The county's 2001 budget contains $2.6 million for anti-smoking campaigns. "They have focused on youth, and that is a very reasonable place to start," said Marshall Goldberg, program director for Communities for a Tobacco Free New York, who praised Spano's new proposal. "All of these things working together is what is going to solve the problem." Specifically, the bill unveiled yesterday would: Ban the self-service sale of tobacco products, requiring that tobacco be kept behind an attended counter. Ban the placement of tobacco ads within 10 feet of any display that offers candy, trading cards or toys for sale. Institute criminal penalties for anyone found purchasing tobacco products on behalf of those under 18. Require lock-out devices on cigarette vending machines preventing children from using them when adults are not present. State law already limits such vending machines to bars, private clubs and certain places of employment. County Attorney Alan Scheinkman, who is stepping down after this week, said a lock-out device would be some sort of mechanism that prevents the vending machine from operating unless it receives a token obtained from a supervising adult of the facility where the machine is. "It (the vending machine) has got to be either attended by an adult or locked out so that it would not be used by a minor," Scheinkman said. Violators would face penalties of up to $300 for each offense under the bill, he added. Scott Wexler, executive director of the Empire State Restaurant and Tavern Owners Association, which opposed previous efforts to restrict smoking in Westchester restaurants, said his organization needed to study Spano's proposal before taking a position on it. He noted, however, that the organization supported similar legislation in Suffolk County as a way to limit youth access to cigarettes. "We certainly would not have a knee-jerk reaction to oppose it," Wexler said. Board of Legislators Majority Leader Thomas Abinanti, D-Greenburgh, said Spano's proposal will be one of the first items of business when lawmakers resume work next month. He predicted swift passage of the bill. Abinanti, who chairs the board's Health Committee, said he might hold a community forum early next month to see whether additional steps could be taken to prevent teen smoking.

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