A Piscataway Township ordinance banning the sale of vaping products within 500 meters of schools and other sensitive locations was unveiled Monday, the latest New Jersey town to enact an ordinance in hopes of curbing vaping among young people.
“(This is a) unique way of trying to minimize the impact of vaping in a community,” Mayor Brian Wahler told NJ Advance Media.
“(Vaping) is the new potential epidemic that’s going to end up happening with our young children in our country,” Wahler said, comparing it to cigarettes. “I don’t want to see another generation get hooked on a gateway that is a nicotine-product.”
The other sensitive locations include nursery schools, childcare centers, funeral homes, and health service facilities, among other locations. The banned areas affect about 90% of the township, Wahler said.
Wahler unveiled the ordinance with public health experts, including associate professor Kevin Schroth of Rutgers School of Public Health, who previously directed the tobacco control policy at the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.
“This ordinance is well suited to the nature of the e-cigarette epidemic,” Schroth said. “It restricts the availability of e-cigarettes more thoroughly than a flavor ban.”
The ordinance passed unanimously on first reading on Nov. 7 and second reading on Nov. 25. It was signed by Wahler and went into effect on Dec. 16.
A map of the affected areas for the vaping products ban in Piscataway.Provided by Piscataway Township
Local businesses have until the end of January to comply, according to township spokesperson Gene Wilk. If they don’t comply, they may receive a fine of $250 for the first offense, $500 for the second offense, and $1,000 for every subsequent offense.
Piscataway Township is the latest municipality to enact a vaping products ban. Jersey City passed a similar ordinance in November, banning the sale and distribution of electronic smoking devices that deliver flavored tobacco products.
Jersey City’s ordinance was adopted early December and will take effect March 3, 2020.
Bernards Township, in Somerset County, prohibited vape shops and smoke shops in all township zones, and Bernardsville, also in Somerset, adopted an ordinance in mid-October that prohibits places that primarily sell vape products in any zone districts.
Brianna Kudisch may be reached at bkudisch@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @briannakudisch. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips.
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