New proposal for Indianapolis smoking ban includes e-cigs (possible January 9th vote!)

[Placebo Effect]

According to Jon Murray of the Indianapolis Star, the vote may come on January 9th. Council members hope for vote soon on reignited smoking ban | The Indianapolis Star | indystar.com

Proposed Indianapolis Smoking Ban

I've already contacted Murray about how he didn't mention e-cigarettes being included, and how this deserves its own separate story in light of (a) the previous version of the bill not including e-cigs; (b) the complete lack of evidence supporting usage bans; and (c) the multiple communities that have removed e-cigs from proposed smoking bans over the past year.

 

[AlmightyGod]

Thanks for the phone call!

I had no idea e-cigarettes were included in the ban, as there had been no mention of it in the press.

Thank you for making me aware of the situation.

 

[Hottody]

Nice that you contacted Murray about this. What are these people thinking of. amazing!!!

 

[Vocalek]

Indianapolis residents:

Here is the list with contact information for all "Councillors". http://www.indy.gov/eGov/Council/Councillors/Documents/2010publiccouncillist.pdf

Between now and Jan 9 area residents need to talk (by phone or in person) with their Councillor and explain that it needs to be edited to remove electronic cigarettes.

Specifically:

In Section 616-102. Definitions, item (k) needs to have the text "the use of an electronic cigarette (also known as an e-cigarette)," deleted.

(k) "Smoking" means the carrying or holding of a lighted cigarette, cigar, pipe, or any other lighted smoking equipment, the use of an electronic cigarette (also known as an e-cigarette), or the inhalation or exhalation of smoke from any lighted smoking equipment. “Smoking” does not include the burning of incense.

If you speak with one of the 25 Councillors listed please leave a message here so that we can track who has been contacted and what their response was.

 

[Placebo Effect]

If anyone wants to do some detective work, it would be helpful to know what City Councilors were not re-elected in the recent Council elections, and who replaced them.

I received an e-mail saying one new member is John Barth (Twitter @votebarth), who is a sponsor of the "smoking" ban.

 

[AlmightyGod]

Aaron Freeman just replaced the disgraced Lincoln Plowman who was recently convicted of accepting bribes from an undercover FBI Agent. Mr. Freeman represents my district.

 

[AlmightyGod]

Bump for Indianapolis residents...

 

[Keeno]

Does any politician TRULY represent his or her district.....sorry for being so "jaded". I just feel hepless when it comes to these matters.....

 

[Keeno]

Upon further investigation I'll make some calls and at least let my voice be heard. As a registered voter I will be taking names and where our "representation" stands on the issue and let them be aware. Quite honestly their just taking the easy way out with the inclusion of e-cigs. At some point we as e-cig users need to unite and form a coalition of some sort to be heard.

 

[DC2]

At some point we as e-cig users need to unite and form a coalition of some sort to be heard.

We already have!
CASAA | The Consumer Advocates for Smoke-Free Alternatives Association

 

[AlmightyGod]

Upon further investigation I'll make some calls and at least let my voice be heard. As a registered voter I will be taking names and where our "representation" stands on the issue and let them be aware. Quite honestly their just taking the easy way out with the inclusion of e-cigs. At some point we as e-cig users need to unite and form a coalition of some sort to be heard.

We need all of the vapers in Indy to do this!

 

[Placebo Effect]

UPDATE: Vote is unlikely on January 9th, but e-cigarette users should still show up to testify! Fast-track vote on smoking ban appears less and less likely | Deep-Fried Politics | The Indianapolis Star | IndyStar.com

It looks like Jon Murray of the Indy Star will be writing an article about the e-cigarette ban. A letter to the editor submitted by AlmightyGod may also be published in the coming days.

 

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Exclude e-cigarettes from smoking ban | Letters to the Editor | The Indianapolis Star | IndyStar.com

As members of the City-County Council deliberate on the newly proposed smoking ban, The Star and our elected public officials should not forget that there are residents who wish to see smoke-free electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) removed from the proposed ordinance.

No rational basis exists to ban the use of e-cigarettes where smoking is not permitted. E-cigarette vapor has been analyzed for contaminants by multiple parties, including the Food and Drug Administration, and no test has ever suggested e-cigarette vapor poses a hazard to bystanders.

. . .

 

[AlmightyGod]

Exclude e-cigarettes from smoking ban | Letters to the Editor | The Indianapolis Star | IndyStar.com

Wow!

They actually published it!

Now we need comments....

 

[Vapeterry]

Thanks DC2 for the CASAA Link, i have run into it several times & have been hesitant - checked it out once before & was confused- anyway not hard at all to donate.

 

[DC2]

Thanks DC2 for the CASAA Link, i have run into it several times & have been hesitant - checked it out once before & was confused- anyway not hard at all to donate.

Very easy to donate, and very easy to join as well.

If you join you can receive email reminders of the member meetings.
I believe the next one will be this coming Sunday.

And if you're motivated enough, you can sign up to be a Regional Representative...
CASAA Forum - Consumer Advocates for a Smoke-free Alternative Association • View topic - Becoming a Regional Rep

 

[Placebo Effect]

Newly-proposed Indiana state smoking ban does not include e-cigarettes - Introduced Version, House Bill 1063

 

[Vocalek]

Good work, folks!

 

[DC2]

But wait, is this Indiana State bill different from the Indianapolis bill?

 

[Placebo Effect]

But wait, is this Indiana State bill different from the Indianapolis bill?

Yep. I haven't read the bill in its entirety to confirm, but there have been "worries" by the Indianapolis 'smoke-free' advocates that the Indiana smoking bill, if passed, would foreclose communities from enacting any smoking regulations tougher than those set by the state (i.e., if the state smoking bill didn't ban smoking in hookah bars, the Indianapolis ban couldn't).

Thus, the Indianapolis antis have been pushing to have their ordinance passed ASAP, as a tough city ordinance passed before a 'weak' state bill is not precluded.

Hopefully that's clear.

Indianapolis, Indiana -- Still a problem
The State of Indiana -- Not a problem