The Howell Township Council will hear a proposal to expand the township’s existing ordinances relating to vaping and smoking e-cigarettes in an attempt to quell the epidemic of teenage vaping.
Firstly, Howell would add new regulations pertaining to the sale of electronic smoking devices and require businesses to obtain one-year renewable licenses to sell them.
Perhaps more noticeable to locals will be new regulations on vaping in public places and on public property. Under the new regulations, which will be voted in a second reading on April 4th, any smoking on public property – regardless of what is being smoked – will be fined.
In a first offense, those caught smoking in public places would be fined $250; a second offense would cost $500; a third offense and subsequent offenses would be subject to $1,000 fines. If a minor is caught smoking, their parents would be responsible for paying the fines. Those fines could be waived by a judge if the offender offers proof of completing of RWJ Barnabas Heath’s 8-week Nicotine and Tobacco Recovery Program.