Osceola County commissioners have approved rules to limit where smokers can use electronic-cigarettes.
"Basically, what the ordinance does is you cannot smoke e-cigarettes anywhere where regular cigarettes cannot be used, " chairwoman Viviana Janer said Monday night.
Not enough is known about the battery-powered, handheld devices that heat up liquid nicotine, officials said. A puff on the mouthpiece delivers a thick cloud of vapor instead of smoke.
Officials want the sale and use of these products to more closely resemble that of regular cigarettes. "It's more a matter of consistency," said county spokesman Andrew Sullivan Tuesday.
Another key part of the Osceola ordinance is minors are not allowed to buy or use these devices, a rule that Gov. Rick Scott signed into state law in 2014. State statute also requires shops selling e-cigarettes to post notices to remind employees and patrons the sale of such products to minors is illegal. The county is expected to make such signage available to business owners. The ordinance also says the electronic devices have to be sold from behind a counter, which is required by state statute.
Janer expressed concern that young people could become addicted to nicotine. The colorful packaging and candy flavors available could appeal to teens, she said.
The National Institute of Health found that kids who smoked e-cigarettes by the beginning of high school were more apt to also try regular cigarettes by their sophomore year, its website states.
The next step is for the county to file the ordinance with the state. Officials are expected to do this within ten days.
Anyone who breaks the rules could be fined up to $500, thrown in jail for up to 60 days, or both, officials said.
