Kicked off campus for using my e-cig.

[Stratzilla]

Monday evening it was raining pretty bad late at night, so when I was having a little vape break before going home I decided to stay out of the smoking area, and instead was a few dozen feet away where there was some shelter so I could vape without getting soaked. Even though I know there is no legislation (or university policy) against using e-cigs anywhere, for the consideration of others and to avoid offending people, I still stick to smoking areas. This is the first time I've used it outside of one on campus, but as I said it was only because it was raining.

Waiting to be picked up, a woman, who I assumed was faculty, passed me by and gave me a dirty look. As she walked off, she got on her cellphone. I didn't think anything of it, but a couple minutes later campus security rolls around and confronts me, saying I am not allowed to use narcotics on campus and they would arrest me if I did not leave. I don't know if it's like this in the States or anywhere else, but in Canada, security officers on private grounds have the power to arrest anyone and press charges.

I tried to explain to him that it was just a flavored nicotine solution, and that it was an electronic cigarette. Midway through explaining that it was harmless, odorless, and that there were no laws against using one, he stopped me and wouldn't have any of my explanation. He concluded that I had moments to leave campus, or he would forcibly detain me. By this point it stopped raining to a light drizzle, so I decided to heed his words and just leave.

Thought I'd share this story. Some people are really ignorant and won't even hear your explanation.

 

[uba egar320]

Wow! Give a guy a blue shirt and a flashlight and he goes on a power trip, huh? Glad you kept your cool dude.

 

[Off Topic]

I'd go to the person over that guy and explain the situation so it doesn't happen again. You aren't doing anything wrong. If the dolt isn't going to listen to you, perhaps he will listen to his boss.

 

[byggd]

WOW! So the Canadian rent a cops have some power, eh? That wouldn't fly here in the US. Good on u for staying calm.

 

[jonny2hottie]

do something about it groovy! ask to see campus security's management and tell them that there are no policies and their officers have no right to do as they did.
take action against wrong doings. I do. everytime i get confronted i say something about it. management is usually the best people to talk to. if they dont heed your message go to the next level up until the message has been sent. it would take alot for them to actually pass any kind of policy against it. even if they did try, it would be awhile before it would get passed and by then im sure everyone in school will know that until policies pass there is nothing they can do about it.

 

[Dougiestyle]

University of Tennessee has a campus police force that legally carry-on as private law enforcement with badges, guns, etc.

Side note: If you hit a pedestrian ANYWHERE on UT campus (whether in a crosswalk or not), it's your fault!*

*Knowledge not obtained from personal experience. Learned it at Knoxville City Defenseless Driving Course.

 

[byggd]

I think that is standard anyplace in CA. Pedestrians ALWAYS have the right-of-way even if they are j-walking.

 

[Stratzilla]

do something about it groovy! ask to see campus security's management and tell them that there are no policies and their officers have no right to do as they did.
take action against wrong doings. I do. everytime i get confronted i say something about it. management is usually the best people to talk to. if they dont heed your message go to the next level up until the message has been sent. it would take alot for them to actually pass any kind of policy against it. even if they did try, it would be awhile before it would get passed and by then im sure everyone in school will know that until policies pass there is nothing they can do about it.

I would, but I don't want to be "that guy", you know the kind of guy I'm talking about.

 

[byggd]

You would rather be know as the guy who smoked narcotics on campus? Just sayin.

 

[Scottinboca]

You did the smartest thing by leaving. It's just not worth the hassle. In the US that wouldn't happen. The campus police(not security) could search you and see that it is only a pv. They wouldn't even let you leave. I personally go to a small private college, they don't even have security. I vape in class all the time. My classmates think it's a little weird or funny, but nobody really cares. If it came down to it though, I would just avoid confrontation like you did. I learned a long time ago to pick my battles wisely.

 

[Sundrinkr]

Side note: If you hit a pedestrian ANYWHERE on UT campus (whether in a crosswalk or not), it's your fault!*


Yeah, but you'd have to be half-blind not to see the bright orange t-shirts lol. Give Ol' Rocky Top a wave for me!

 

[SaltyPirate]

Maybe you could get some business cards with info on them from some vendors. As you're leaving give him a card so he can read later if he chooses.

 

[steve321]

I'd have punched the ....

 

[Tregs]

I don't know what your campus rules are but at my campus electronic cigarettes and vaporizers are banned everywhere except for places that regular cigarettes are permitted. Check the campus policy because it is very likely the same and maybe that is why he was mad.

 

[Archer]

Sounds like a good idea to go the his superiors and explain what an ecig is. You don't want the rep of using narcs and you never know what security put on your record.

 

[uba egar320]

Sounds like a good idea to go the his superiors and explain what an ecig is. You don't want the rep of using narcs and you never know what security put on your record.

Idk....chicks might dig it lol!

 

[Stratzilla]

I don't know what your campus rules are but at my campus electronic cigarettes and vaporizers are banned everywhere except for places that regular cigarettes are permitted. Check the campus policy because it is very likely the same and maybe that is why he was mad.

My university policy is as follows: "smoking and tobacco are to be secluded to designated smoking areas; smoking is defined as inhaling, exhaling, burning, or carrying a lighted cigarette, cigar, pipe, or other apparatus used to smoke tobacco or any other materials".

I could get into semantics and the word choice used in the policy, but my PV is not a "lighted cigarette", or an "apparatus used to smoke tobacco". Hell, you don't even "smoke" a PV.

I'm thinking of conducting a seminar or presentation on the subject at my university. There is a "quit smoking" club attributed to health services and security services, so I wouldn't mind giving a demo and explanation of what a PV is and how it is a better alternative for combustion methods for nicotine delivery. I think it's high time people be educated at my institution, and I would be glad to do it myself. There are speakers on behalf of the quit smoking club they have, so I'm sure I can get a spot in.

I don't want to allow vaping everywhere because I realize some juice odors may offend others, but I just want to remove the stigma associated with it, and explain so in the future people don't misconstrue my PV as a "...." or some ......... accessory. Even in smoking areas I get weird looks. I'll keep to smoking areas like I always do, but I don't want any more hassles for me, or anyone else who uses PV at my university.

Sounds like a good idea to go the his superiors and explain what an ecig is. You don't want the rep of using narcs and you never know what security put on your record.

Usually campus security will ask you for student ID when confronted, but not this time. I don't have any record.

 

[spicyed]

I don't know what your campus rules are but at my campus electronic cigarettes and vaporizers are banned everywhere except for places that regular cigarettes are permitted. Check the campus policy because it is very likely the same and maybe that is why he was mad.

This is actually NJ state law, so it applies everywhere for us.

 

[Tregs]

This is actually NJ state law, so it applies everywhere for us.

True. But there is no NJ law in regards to outdoor smoking (at least not yet knock on wood) so the its purely on the college if they ban ecigs in outdoor areas. And in 2010 my college banned all outdoor smoking in the academic areas (you can still smoke outside the dorms). And my college has a 250 dollar fine for the first offense for using ecigs in an outdoor prohibited area which ironically is much bigger than the fine for smoking a real cigarette inside (I think the fine for smoking inside is 75 dollars).

 

[spicyed]

True. But there is no NJ law in regards to outdoor smoking (at least not yet knock on wood) so the its purely on the college if they ban ecigs in outdoor areas. And in 2010 my college banned all outdoor smoking in the academic areas (you can still smoke outside the dorms). And my college has a 250 dollar fine for the first offense for using ecigs in an outdoor prohibited area which ironically is much bigger than the fine for smoking a real cigarette inside (I think the fine for smoking inside is 75 dollars).

Yeah. The community college by my house has had this for a few years. A friend of mine was given a ticket for smoking a cigarette in his car while leaving the school. It's the same fine. I know the next town over from me (where that school is) has a no less then $1000 fine for the third offense.

Even so I vape at work all..day..long. =D