Council bans electronic smoking devices

City Council approved an ordinance adding electronic smoking devices to the city’s general ordinance banning smoking in public areas on Thursday. In May, the city manager was directed to draft code amendments to add these devices, which include e-cigarettes and vape pens that allow ingestion of nicotine in vapor, liquid or aerosol form, to the code. In a separate agenda item, Council approved prohibiting vending machines that sell electronic smoking devices in public. The ordinance amending the city code also added language prohibiting giving free electronic smoking devices or coupons for those smoking devices to minors, which is punishable with a fine no less than $100 for the first offense, no less than $200 for the second offense within 12 months of the first and no less than $500 for the third. The ordinance also officially changed the name of the Health and Human Services Department to the Austin Public Health Department, so update your files accordingly.