Bloomington City Council OKs ban on vaping in public places

That was the Bloomington City Council’s decision Wednesday night when they voted 7-0-1 to regulate e-cigarette products similarly to cigars and cigarettes, such as requiring users of these products to step outside or remain within designated areas.

But council members repeatedly stressed this does not stop people from using the products altogether.

“It is not about banning vaping,” council member Dave Rollo said. “It is about limiting exposure to non-vapers.”

This was the second local attempt in recent months to regulate the devices’ usage in public. Earlier this year, the Monroe County Board of Health argued for the addition of electronic nicotine delivery systems to the county’s smoking ordinance to protect public health.

But county commissioners rejected the health board’s recommendation, with some members critical of the quality of the evidence and research submitted to support the proposal.