E-Cigarettes To Be Banned In Fort Collins
FORT COLLINS, Colo. (CBS4)- E-cigarettes will be included as part of the Fort Collins expanded smoking ordinance.
The City of Fort Collins ban on smoking makes no distinction between traditional tobacco cigarettes and the new vapor cigarettes.
Smokers will have a lot more rules to follow starting July 26.
"I don't think that's fair at all, actually," said Fort Collins resident Bailey Cox.
The Fort Collins City Council voted on Tuesday night to expand its definition of smoking to include vapor and so-called "E-cigarettes." That means anywhere that traditional smoking is banned, so are vapor cigarettes.
"The E-cigarettes, personally, I'm smoking one currently because I'm trying to quit cigarettes and it's helped me tremendously," said Cox.
The City of Fort Collins staff said polls show most people who live in the city limits support efforts to reduce smoking of any kind in public places.
In January, bars and restaurants had to implement a no smoking ban on their patios.
"Most of the time they don't even comply. They hop over the fence or stick their hand through the fence," said Cox.
While businesses navigate the new rules, Fort Collins is considering adding even more.
"Entire park free of smoking? That's a good thing, actually," said Fort Collins resident Jie Zhao.
Those ideas include banning all smoking in public parks or just near playground equipment.
City administrators would like public input on what people think about expanding the ban in popular spots like Old Town Square before submitting a formal proposal to the city council.
"That's kind of rough on us, especially those of us who work out here," said Fort Collins resident Evan Jones.
By Jan. 1, 2015 all hotel and motels must be smoke-free, which includes E-cigarettes. The Fort Collins City Council will consider further expansions to the ban in October.
