The city of Dallas, Texas, is set to expand its existing public smoking restrictions to include e-cigarettes (vaping). The newly tightened regulations, approved by the Dallas City Council last year, will prohibit vaping in all public places where traditional smoking is currently banned, effectively treating both activities the same under the law.
The updated 2003 public-smoking ban broadens the definition of smoking to encompass vaping devices and other electronic products that generate inhaled aerosols. This means vaping will be prohibited in indoor areas such as bars, restaurants, and workplaces, as well as in public parks. The revised policy also bans vaping within 15 feet of any entrance to an indoor public facility, a "buffer zone" rule that mirrors existing restrictions for traditional cigarette smoking to prevent vapor from drifting inside.
Individuals caught violating the new rules could face fines of up to $500, with the city planning to enforce these penalties in the same manner as those for traditional smoking. This move aligns Dallas with other major Texas cities like San Antonio, Austin, and Houston, which have already implemented similar restrictions to align vaping regulations with long-standing public smoking bans amid growing public health concerns about the long-term risks of e-cigarettes.
