Issue with Police? Thinking of going back to analogs @ party/club/drinknights

[Trial_And_Error]

Hi!

Been free from analogs for aprox 3 weeks now with my Tornado tank and I feel much better everyday of not smoking. Last weekend I was at a club and was certain I would smoke atleast 8-14 analogs but I didn't when I had my tank with me.

- I almost didn't belive in it when I woke up the next day, but was sooooooooooo proud of myself!

One thing bothers me though, I live in Sweden electronic cigarettes is not a known phenomenon. Since PV's look kinda 'suspect' I don't like the idea of being sent away for checkup at the station when I am out with my friends, it would totally destroy the night.

I mean, a PV could easily be misstaken for a crackpipe or something.

I have made some research regarding a possible reaction if the police would see me vape outside a club and talked to several authority the last few days.

• The Food and Drug Administration in Sweden says it's 100% OK to import PV's and E-liquid for PRIVATE USE.
  
• A cop I called didn't know what it was, I explained. He was very uncertain and said "if they suspect something they could take you in and you probably need to go to the station house for a drug/urine test".
  
• Next day I was referd to 'the Narcotics Unit' and talked to a guy who was very interested in the matter, but he claimed that the device could be abused for other substances and that cops would be very concerned if they saw it. He said that I should use snus instead. I hate snus!
  
• Today I talked to three diffrent people at the National Laboratory of Forensic Science, none had heard about it and almost told me to be discreet when I use it in public since it is completely unknown.

I am not afraid since I have the law on my side, but it would be very devastating if I had a special night planned and was sent away for 3 hours or how long it would take..

Therefore, and I don't like what I am saying, but I am thinking about buying analogs for these occasions..

Any thoughts?

 

[Valsacar]

I wouldn't be afraid, if possible keep some information on you about it just in case (especially anything that says it's legal in your country). You're not doing anything wrong, so why should you be worried? It's just as likely that someone could have repacked a cigarette with something illegal, do they bring those people in for testing? If it did come up, I'd provide some information, if they insisted on taking me in I would be more than happy to go with them, and ask them to point out where I can file an official complaint for harassment.

 

[~Milo~]

Doesn't your country have field test kits for drugs, if so they could take a drop of e-liquid, test it and see its not a drug, takes less then 5 minutes.

 

[markfm]

I'd carry a bit of printed material, ideally something from the vendor of your PV, something like the printed ECF business card, a CASAA flyer (or equivalent), anything written specific to Sweden stating that they are legal to import/use.

 

[DMF]

buy one of those little 510 style "cigarette" looking ones for when out and about. It looks like a cig so doesn't spark too much interest, and if examined up close it's obvious it couldn't hold much and wouldnt' burn a piece of illegal drug. I would think you'd be less likely to be punished for having one of those. I would get the one with the red led instead of a sleek black one with blue or green led. no sense in going back to cigarettes unless/until forced.

 

[Sgt. Pepper]

trial and error, talk about being in a police state: guilty until proven innocent. U.S. isn't there yet, but certain politicians would love to see it that way.

 

[slumdog]

Just go with it, act all rebellious, go down town with them, and as long as your "on the level" you will be ok, and your special friend, when you get back in a couple hours, will see you as a hero... bingo... A+....nite, if you ask me.... boy.... will you get rewarded for standing up for what you know is right....

 

[loden813]

That would be a problem. I agree with the others about carring a card with explaination. Many on the force would become interested, try it themselves, and maybe they become more accustomed to viewing ECs.

 

[Mudflap]

I would advise discretion and do your best not to attract the attention of law enforcement. If approached about it, you should be able to explain that you're within your rights to use your PV and not breaking any laws, but frankly, if the law enforcement officer wants to be a d**k about it, he/she can ruin your night/week/month/etc.

I'm a law enforcement officer, by the way. I strive to not be the kind of LEO I just described, but it's well documented that too many others in my field have no qualms about that kind of thing.

 

[mccawley]

You are one of the few destined to take abuse, ridicule, and mockery in the name of PV's
You must pave the way for the rest of society. Teach those about the ways of the PV, show the world that cigarettes have a destiny for death, and that you are the one to bring it.

But really... the police wont bother you unless they suspect something, and that something is usually based on the person holding the device, not the device. I mean If you look like a strung out drug addict, then yeah! they are gonna give you the once over.



Hej då

 

[DaveP]

I like the idea of using an Ecig that looks like a cigarette with a red led. After all, walking outside to vape here and there isn't as bad as it sounds. You would have to deal with security if you looked like you were smoking tobacco using a look alike, but you wouldn't get hassled if it looked like the real thing.

OTOH, if you are stealth vaping with an Ego and trying to be discreet, that would be a giveaway to security people looking for druggies. You might want to make friends with security and let them know what your Ecig is and how you are using it to quit smoking. They might be understanding and that would help if you get cornered by a LEO.

In America, I wouldn't be worried about it. If you appear normal and responsive to a LEO, and offer to have the Ecig tested, you should be just fine. It's arrogance that provokes a reactive response.

 

[leannebug]

Excellant ideas here. I live in the States, but I have a few of the same worries (ESP since I use pink egos and mods, ect). So I carry ECF cards in my car and person. I also stash a few of the vendor cards so I have a variety. If I were club hopping, I'd probably use the standard white PV with red led. Just makes sense to blend in if you don't want to draw attention.




Sent from my pod

 

[Sgt. Pepper]

The OP lives in Sweden--a socialist democracy. They do not have the same rights as the U.S.--a constitutional republic...of course that could be argued now. I have no fear of being locked up for the night because of an ecig. If I were in Sweden, I would have a concern.

cheers,

 

[slumdog]

The OP lives in Sweden--a socialist democracy. They do not have the same rights as the U.S.--a constitutional republic...of course that could be argued now. I have no fear of being locked up for the night because of an ecig. If I were in Sweden, I would have a concern.

cheers,

my new thoughts after a little research, didn't quite register about the Sweden part before, But yes maybe you should be a bit concerned until they are a bit more well known.....

 

[jlarsen]

Save the tank for home, and maybe get a cigarette looking (white with tan "filter") e-cig with a red/orange LED - nobody will even think twice. No, don't use snus, don't go back to analogs. If you aren't using your equipment for other means, you are doing nothing illegal. If the cops have a problem, explain to them what it is. Worst case scenario is that you get taken in for questioning, your equipment gets tested for illegal substances, and you get released. Of course, that would suck, but...

 

[Caddyman]

You are one of the few destined to take abuse, ridicule, and mockery in the name of PV's
You must pave the way for the rest of society. Teach those about the ways of the PV, show the world that cigarettes have a destiny for death, and that you are the one to bring it.

mccawley makes an interesting point. if no-one, even the police, don't know what it is then you have a golden oppurtunity to break open a pocket of interest in your area.

it is legal, you did your research, if they detain you for it, and it's legal to have, then you may have a case against the ignorant police force, go to trial, get in the paper, make headlines, let everyone know about ecigs!!

then...prosper....and vape.


*only somewhat serious

 

[jlarsen]

my new thoughts after a little research, didn't quite register about the Sweden part before, But yes maybe you should be a bit concerned until they are a bit more well known.....

One thing that might help is introducing others that frequent the same clubs as you to e-cigs. The cops might be suspicious the first time they see 4 or 5 of you all standing outside puffing on similar devices, but safety in numbers, and a good way to introduce the local cops to ecigs so they know what is up.

I've always thought of sweden as a rather progressive country, despite being a socialist democracy vs. a constitutional republic (debatable) - I have a hard time believing that Sweden is more of a police state than the U.S.

I've had cops pull me over for traffic violations, accuse me of having ......... in my vehicle because they claimed to be able to smell it (WHAT THEY WERE ACTUALLY SMELLING WERE MENTHOL CIGARETTES, and too stupid to know the difference). I've had cops hassle me and make me get out of my car and be searched just because I have long hair and wear a leather jacket, expecting me to have weapons or drugs, and literally being in disbelief when I turn up clean, actually being angry at me for not having anything they could arrest me for.

I've been hassled much of my life here in the U.S. by LEOs, on a handful of occasions I did have something on me that warrant them writing me a ticket for a misdemeanor - but the times I've been minding my own business and not in possession of anything illegal far outweigh the times I was in the wrong.

It could happen here just as easily in Sweden, at least being taken into custody and held until the equipment and juice was tested for drugs. Of course here you'd be released, MAYBE even get an apology, once test were done and the LEOs had their fun hassling you and questioning you about every item in your possession and in general being total a$$es to you.

I got a call from the Police station once because someone had turned in a bag of my belongings that had fallen out of my hatchback in a parking lot. When I got there, the cops hassled me because there was a ski mask in the bag. Hello, I lived in FRICKEN MAINE where it is known to get down to -20. He asked me why I owned a ski mask, and I looked at him like he was f'ing kidding me. He finally let me go after telling me I was lucky he wasn't going to arrest me and that I smelled like ......... (once again, I hadn't smoked any or been around any in a long time) he was smelling my menthol cigs, but too dumb to know the difference).

To think that it could happen in Sweden, but not here is just plain ignorant, IMHO. Just because Sweden has socialized healthcare, higher taxes, and stricter laws regarding commercial products plugged on television talk shows, doesn't mean they are any more likely to jail people who aren't doing anything illegal.

According to Wikipedia, ecigs and nicotine free juice are legal, nic juice is prohibited pending legislation... it might be in need of updating if nic ejuice is in fact legal in Sweden now.

 

[JohnReagan]

Fascinating story OP.

I'm in America and can only give my own personal experience. It's sad, but police sometimes do judge by appearance only. I was stopped by police after midnight in a very upscale neighborhood with multi-million dollar houses (because a family member rents one and I was going to his house). I was stopped because I was driving one of my favorite project cars, an ugly, badly painted early 90's Chevrolet Caprice which the police later told me is the common choice of gang members and thugs. Although I'm in my mid 30's and was well dressed, the car didn't fit the image. Surely I was there to rob a house, they thought. They actually told me this.

They saw my PV (huge shiny silver 1000mah eGo PT with a cone that you can unplug and take with you), got edgy about it, asked me what it was then took it away from me, examined it and returned to tell me the reason why they stopped me (the car). They wished me success with not smoking and let me go. Had anything been wrong with my driver's license or car, or had I had a history of arrest, I'm pretty sure I would have been toast and my explanation of what a PV is would not have been listened to.

Was I lucky? I'd like to feel that police officers do listen when you're being calm, respectful and proper. I'm keeping my PV while I drive, and carrying printed material explaining what it is. I have my rights. However, I certainly would hate to be hauled off in cuffs because the worst part of that is the car is towed at a ridiculous towing and storage fee that you later have to pay to get it out. I don't have that kind of money lying around.

 

[Pip-Boy]

You could be discrete and get a more analog looking PV to avoid any hassles. Perfectly understandable. I think you will hate analogs if you go back. I had one when my batts ran out, and it tasted like 5#!7. I don't flaunt my vaping, but I am happy to answer questions and convert smokers. I would think if you act suspiciously about vaping, you will be treated that way by LEO. If you are unconcerned and cordial, an carry some info as suggested by others, you probably won't have many problems.

My recommendation would be to use a branded PV, and a printed screenshot from the website, that way any LEO can easily verify your on the level. A mod will likely be harder to verify, especially if its homemade, or has no trademark or labelling.

Just my two cents. GL.

 

[hiram13pm]

Most States in the U.S. have laws regarding LEO's being smeg-heads just because they can... it's quite easy to catch them violating such. Sad thing is, most people aren't aware of said laws.

The Federal version (Title 18, Section 242) only covers violations of your rights under the US Constitution (4th amendment, anyone? 14th?), but it's similar to the (usually) more strict State versions. Here in Louisiana, it's called "Harassment Under Color of Authority". Sure, they can stop you, search you, maybe even take you in and test your stuff... but if they try to intimidate you or overstep their bounds, you've got a really good case. Look up your local laws & know them, chapter and verse.