Hide yo Mod, hide yo eGO..and hide you 510 too, they harass'n errybody up in here!

[Systehm]

I know of what is known as a Pen, that is identical to something like a black Ego set and is used for smoking medicinal concentrates. It is shocking how similar the two are, so if you are in a state that the use of these type of devices is prominent (typically Medicinal MJ states, but I'm sure they make it into states where it is illegal) then I can only assume that this type of conflict with a park ranger or police officer could happen often. Because from their point of view, if they are aware of these Pens for medicinal concentrates, they need to be cautious and take a closer look at exactly what it is and what you're inhaling. In this case, the park ranger didn't seem to know really anything about E-Cigs or even the medicinal concentrates Pens, except maybe that they exist. He also seemed to be very ignorant, he certainly could have just done a simple Google search and seen what you had was nothing more than Nicotine juice and an E-Cigarette. If actual E-Cigs are used for other purposes, this is news to me. I've always figured these Pens had to be fundamentally different in some way to what we use, as one uses Nicotine oils and one uses a thicker substance.

 

[Tanks]

How about this instead of going in the abused citizen witch will probably do much of nothing. Do a little research. Put together an informative packet with 8x5 glossy photos with circles and arrows on the back ( Only people old enough to appreciate Alice's Restaurant might smile at that.)
Anyway send the packet to the Ranger station with a brief description of you unpleasant interaction. Turn you negative in to a positive for all the vapers who camp there after you.

This is perfect! You literally could not handle it any better.

 

[look30]

I wonder if the good Ranger would have seen someone shooting Insulin , would they confiscate their syringe too ?

 

[SissySpike]

I keep seeing the reoccurring them of they should be educated about ecigs. Its my experience trying to figure out who has the most guilt when a problem occurs dose very little to solve the problem. The way to solve a problem is to take preventive measures so it dose not happen again.
Im sure there is not a meeting room like on Southland that they pass out a packet saying people this is a ecig dont arrest people for using these!
If its an issue make a trip to your local cop shop and take some info and educate the person in charge its not to hard. Or you can sit back hope they are informed and if your inconvenienced buy a uninformed law enforcement official you can be a victim of injustice and scream how terrible it is.
My self Id rather take a proactive stance. If you know there is a problem and do nothing to stop it you are just as much at fault as they are. This is just my opinion if you do not agree you have a right to be wrong;-)

 

[l_strider_l]

And whoever complained about you could have politely asked you what it was before tattletaling

very true, but we live in a world of fear to the point that people shy from interaction with people and things they don't understand

 

[l_strider_l]

I simply will not be handing over any device to any LEO.

I am of the same mind. I will add that, as someone who may have had a run in or two with the law as a youth which only served to put (what I will vaguely put as) a bullseye on my back, I always think it to be in MY best interest to cooperate FULLY (however, I do so mostly out of fear of my past catching up with me)

 

[l_strider_l]

A LEO's primary job is to enforce the peace and to enforce the law. MOST people do NOT bring alcohol to a National Park. MANY people may, but it is still against the law, and IMHO, an UNWISE action, especially when there are children present.I don't want to keep arguing, but I would be PO'd if I saw you with a beer (or your portable bar) in a PUBLIC National Park. Again, it is not your backyard. Having respect for other people is more important to me than if some Park Ranger RIGHTFULLY confiscated your beer. You are lucky he didn't ticket you for the alcohol. But, you would probably complain about what an ... he was, if he did...

Ease up! Man, Im not putting up an argument here. You are VERY correct, if that was the case, I DO consider myself lucky. My lesson was learned, I only wish he could have learned something also. I begrudge no one!

 

[l_strider_l]

How about this instead of going in the abused citizen witch will probably do much of nothing. Do a little research. Put together an informative packet with 8x5 glossy photos with circles and arrows on the back ( Only people old enough to appreciate Alice's Restaurant might smile at that.)
Anyway send the packet to the Ranger station with a brief description of you unpleasant interaction. Turn you negative in to a positive for all the vapers who camp there after you.

Great advice. Did something very similar yesterday.

 

[l_strider_l]

hmm, interesting and i did google for an answer and all i can find is different Parks have different rules.It is up to the person to find out the rules before going to the park. I am so embarrassed at my question because it was obvious.

carry on

Impressed, good form

 

[l_strider_l]

But that is the crux of it...Why is it illegal to have alcohol in the park? I can see no beers at the Smithsonian, but in the woods...I just don't get it.

I agree. In the Park because the campsites are pay regulated, not in the Forest at dispersed sites. So, rather than quietly disagree with the rule I would quietly break it. Perhaps I should be more vocal and perhaps I am a bad person

 

[l_strider_l]

I'm by no means an expert on this but it seems obvious to me........ shouldn't law enforcement actively keep up with and research what they're likely to encounter 'on the street' (or in the park in this case)? Or at least receive formal briefings and/or training? Or am I missing the point in that this LEO knew what it was and just wanted to be seen exercising some power?

One of the best thread titles I've seen, btw.

I did assume that LEO's have a greater extent of street knowledge than they do, especially a Ranger

Thanks, my shot out to Antoine Dodson

 

[SissySpike]

very true, but we live in a world of fear to the point that people shy from interaction with people and things they don't understand

Yea kind of ashamed hu. If they would of just took 10min to walk over and say hi they would of most likely walked away with a pleasant interaction with another person. I always thought meeting my neighbors was part of the fun of camping in a park like that. But then again I seldom meet any strangers I start up a conversation with the guy pumping gas next to me beats watching the dollars wrack up on the gas pump!

 

[l_strider_l]

Some people don't think alcohol and camping and fireworks mix well together. Some people don't want to be around drunken yahoos when they go camping in a public place (not that the OP was a "drunken yahoo.) The point is, if you don't like the no alcohol rule, DON'T GO THERE. There are many places that allow the public consumption of alcohol. That particular National Park was NOT one of them. BTW, that particular park allows alcohol at your individual campsite, but NOT in public areas.

The Park Ranger was trying to do his job, which was to protect EVERYONE'S "rights," not just the "right" of the individual who may or may not be vaping illegal plant material. If you don't like that law, you have the "right" to try and overturn it, through legal ways.

This wasn't the Wild West. Some individual "rights" have to be overruled in order to maintain the safety of the public. You have the "right" to drink in your own backyard, a party or a bar. You do NOT have the "right" to consume intoxicants in places where it is endangering/bothering/impinging upon other individuals. I DO consider myself a person with "balls." I DO know my civil rights, and I stand up against demagoguery, whether it be by the police or anybody else. I also know how to read posted rules. PS: I don't have kids, but I can understand how a parent or other individual could be concerned about someone "apparently" consuming illegal substances and/or alcohol in this PUBLIC place. There is a time and a place...This was neither.

This has gotten outta hand. I'm sorry I ever posted this experience. The purpose: a witty prose to explain that ignorance toward vaping is still pervasive and we should all be on our toes.

BTW: the George Washington National FOREST near Luray, VA butts up against the Shenandoah National PARK across the Shenandoah River in places. It was what we call a Dispersed camping spot and not a designated pay camping area. I said nothing when he took the beer because it is not that important and I was trying to be cooperative. I stay out of the National PARK because you cant burn a fire either. Sorry for the confusion

 

[l_strider_l]

This kinda reminds me of the person who was pulled for speeding.......they broke the law....and then were questioned about their ecig stuff. I guess officers will want to look at other stuff you have, once you have ALREADY BROKEN THE LAW.

"Maryland Park Service Alcohol Policy
The consumption, or possession of an open container, of an alcoholic beverage is prohibited in all State Park areas, including campgrounds."

Did you have a permit for the alcohol and/or were you in a location where drinking with a permit was legal per their requirements?

If not, you broke the law.


I thought that US Park Rangers all get the same training since they are feds. I spend a lot of time at National Parks, and have stoood around and chatted with many, many US Forest Service Park rangers-----while holding my ecig and mods. Nobody has ever asked to investigate or search me.

Are you SURE it wasn't because you had beer?

First question: Yes
Second question: Positive!
I would not have posted the story if it was, that would make me a fool. It is not against the rules for Dispersed Camping areas in the National Forest. It is, however, against the rules in the National Park across the river. I said nothing because I wanted to be cooperative. Your statements are agreed with under your assumptions, now back to the point

 

[l_strider_l]

I just checked the page:

George Washington & Jefferson National Forests - Camping & Cabins:Campground Camping


It appears that alcoholic beverages are permitted at certain campgrounds, if I have the right place. Some say they aren't allowed, others make no mention of it...so I'm willing to bet some campgrounds allow alcoholic beverages, although I could be wrong.


Even so , if he just had a beer, and was relaxing doing nothing else wrong.....he should have been questioned about the BEER, NOT the ecigs.

The truth is, ecigs aren't used for anything illegal. Time and time again I see posts by people getting harrassed by officers saying ecigs are used for illegal activity, or can be. That is propaganda, and no one really uses ecigs for anything illegal. That isn't an opinion, that is just fact. There is NO reason to be harassed for having an ecig.

An ecig like device would be EXTREMELY inefficient for anything besides doing what it is designed to do....function as a nicotine delivery system. Maybe people were are oblivious to illegals are confused, but it is just absurd to see this disinformation being spread.

Congratulations, you got the point of my OP! Thank you for looking up the beer thing, you are correct, Dispersed Camping areas allow alcohol. I would have included the link as a disclaimer had I known people would focus on what I was presumably doing wrong instead of the point of the OP

 

[l_strider_l]

I was going to PIF them when I moved onto the larger mods, but changed my mind when I pictured myself hiking in the smokies with the giant CVI, lol.

I did feel pretty redonk sitting there while my batteries charged in the car.

 

[Racehorse]

Overkill. Most LEOS just want to do the job and go home.

Well this is reason I spoke up.

This "I was persecuted over my ecig" thing is more unusual than normal...I go everwhere with mine, racetrack, casino, restaurants, national parks, even the courthouse, walmart, etc. I walk by tons of security guards, police officers, park rangers.......NO PROBLEM EVER.

Here are my suggestions:

1) IF you get the attention of a police officer or security personnel because you are doing something (other than vaping, like speeding, drinking where you shouldn't, having an argument with somebody in a bar or restaurant, etc.) then you have drawn attention to yourself already by breaking laws and rules.

That they are gonna investigate you further should not come as a surprise.

2) If you mix your own juice, either order some bottles once in a while from vendors, OR have your own labels printed up. It is not at all expensive, and you can certainly have your own labels printed up, with the nicotine warning, the mg, the name of juice, and even the ingredients.

3) Always carry several business cards from ecig vendors and CAASA.

I do these things "just in case."


At any rate, it's not like I live in the center of "sophistication" either, I live in the boonies of arkansas and the LEOs and such around here seem to be more than familiar with what an ecig is. At Oaklawn in Hot Springs, there are many people walking around with ecigs in the casino and at the racetrack. And I see them in restaurants (esp. the outdoor ones) all the time.

So, these stories of persecution are not common, and most of the ones I've read involved the user ALSO doing something else that was against the rules, like getting pulled for speeding, or vaping in places like federal or state buildings where it is posted no smoking, and since vaping hasn't been distinguished from smoking yet (totally) then you just follow those rules and you'll be fine.

For the rest of you, I am sorry for any bad experiences you've had, my philosophy has always been taht once I leave the security of my OWN HOME, and venture into public, anything can happen. I can get blown up, etc. and once somebody threw up on my shoes at a concert. This is life.

 

[pcrdude]

No alcohol permitted in a national park, but it is never enforced. Unless...that is, Rosco P. Coltrane doesn't get his way while looking like a tard and needs something to divert attention away from his ignorance

I guess I don't follow how you wrote this earlier, then appear to be writing that the beer was OK.

Did I miss something?

 

[Rubicon]

CASAA E-cigarette Information Cards
Those are pre made ecig information cards, I have a few on me at all times.

 

[Bosco]

I put most of the blame on the campers who reported the "suspicious" activity. Unless the OP was being loud, rude or threatening in some way (which doesn't seem likely) - then they should just mind thier own business and enjoy the weekend.