Tulsa Ordinance Would Further Restrict Smoking, Vaping

Monday, August 28th 2017, 9:43 pm

By: News On 6

Smoking a cigarette or vaping outside on city-owned property could soon be illegal in Tulsa, and if caught doing it, you could end up with a $100 fine.

It's already illegal to smoke or vape inside city-owned property, like Tulsa City Hall.

But if councilors approve an ordinance, city-owned parks, recreation areas, golf courses and detention ponds would be off-limits.

It's become a common sight.

"I carry nothing that has any of the harmful chemicals," said Addy McNeill, owner of Vapor Extreme.

McNeill has been selling her products there for five years.

"There's nothing harmful in the vaporization that's blown out," McNeill said.

She has lots of returning customers.

"And new people all the time that are wanting to quit smoking," McNeill said.

She believes some people turn to vaping to help them stop smoking.

Including an 82-year-old lady who is now nicotine free.

"And I just kept bringing her down, and bringing her down, and bringing her down, and bringing her down, and now she's down to a zero [nicotine]. But she still enjoys her vaping," McNeill said.

Councilors will consider an ordinance this week that would expand a smoking restriction that to all city-owned property outside with the exception of streets and sidewalks.

"I could be sitting next to you and if I blew an enormous cloud, you might go 'wow, that's a really big cloud.' But there is absolutely nothing that you could inhale that would be anything harmful," McNeill said.

McNeill understands the concerns with cigarettes.

They have dangerous chemicals, and if discarded wrong, they can start fires.

But extending the rule to vaping, she's not for it and doesn't get the logic.

"Are you going to ban cell phones because they use the same type of batteries?" McNeill said.

If approved the city will put up signs warning of the law.

You still have time to weigh in before councilors vote.

They will review the ordnance at a committee meeting this Wednesday.