Round Rock considers public vaping ban - KEYE TV

The ordinance would ban vaping in common areas, elevators, workplaces, public restrooms, taxis, service lines and sports arenas, unless in a designated smoking area. (Photo: Lindsay Fox / CC BY 2.0 )


The Round Rock City Council Thursday night will consider banning e-cigarette use in public spaces.

The ordinance would ban vaping in common areas, elevators, workplaces, public restrooms, taxis, service lines and sports arenas, unless in a designated smoking area.

Vaping would still be allowed in retail vaping stores, bars that do not serve food and designated hotel rooms as long as lobbies, hallways, and other public areas remain smoke and e-cigarette free.

The Round Rock discussion comes just weeks after new federal regulations for e-cigarettes went into effect.

Under the new regulations, the Food and Drug Administration will have to approve all e-cigarette products that have been on the market since 2007.

The new regulations come amid concerns from anti-tobacco health groups. E-cigarette use among high school students rose from 1.5 percent in 2011 to 16 percent in 2015, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The vaping ban is up for the first reading at Thursday night's city council meeting. It requires two readings before a vote.