New York City - Safe or not?

[padejash]

Hi Gang

I will be vacationing in New York City in December. The last I heard was that E-cigarettes were to be banned and hefty fines imposed. I can't find out any more updates. If anyone knows if it is safe to vape please let me know. I know smoking is rapidly becoming something they will hunt you down for, but if I vape (my wife still smokes) in my car, is there a risk? Any updates would be appreciated.

 

[suspectK]

If I had money and that were the case, I'd do it on purpose to fight it in court, but I don't see how that can be enforceable. You can still smoke there. At least, I've never noticed anyone getting fined for smoking.. cigarettes.

 

[dokebilee]

Don't come to New York. Mayor Bloomberg is planning on banning electronic cigarettes, and among other things. Pretty soon, he is going to ban breathing... I'm certain.

 

[Krib]

Ecigs aren't being banned. Their SALES may be regulated so that they can only be sold in tobacco stores. I don't think I'd vape in a restaurant or bar without asking but that's pretty standard everywhere, no?

I can positively guarantee that nobody is going to fine you for vaping in your own car (or even for smoking).

 

[ScottP]

I wouldn't go to any city that a "Blooming Idiot" for Mayor. Anyone that will ban sodas, is willing to take away anything and everything that you like.

 

[padejash]

So far so good. I'm not anticipating trouble, but I do try to follow local customs and laws when I travel, or at least make sure I'm not breaking any big ones. Just a little common courtesy.

 

[Lombaowski]

I wouldn't go to any city that a "Blooming Idiot" for Mayor. Anyone that will ban sodas, is willing to take away anything and everything that you like.

I'm sure they won't miss you, you know with their 47 million tourists a year and 8.2 million residents and all.

 

[Zencoder]

Ecigs aren't being banned. Their SALES may be regulated so that they can only be sold in tobacco stores. I don't think I'd vape in a restaurant or bar without asking but that's pretty standard everywhere, no?

I can positively guarantee that nobody is going to fine you for vaping in your own car (or even for smoking).

+1 on this.. NYC vaper and I know nothing has been regulated just yet (We are fighting), just be courteous if you want to vape inside. I've never had an issue in bars, and generally when you ask nicely, get approval, and pull out whatever you are vaping on, a bunch of people join in and you have an instant conversation group, talking about it. The only warning I would give you is that there are not a lot of shops here, so bring enough eliquid to last if you aren't using disposables or cig-a-likes. (Most Bodegas carry those though, so plenty o' stock)

 

[ScottP]

I'm sure they won't miss you, you know with their 47 million tourists a year and 8.2 million residents and all.

I didn't expect them to.

 

[Krib]

The only warning I would give you is that there are not a lot of shops here, so bring enough eliquid to last if you aren't using disposables or cig-a-likes.

Yup. One shop in Manhattan to my knowledge, and one place that seems to hand-deliver VERY basic supplies (not even ProTank heads). Enormous market, too. But why would they open just to be shut down a year later?

 

[six]

but that's pretty standard everywhere, no?

.

No. Some of us still live fairly free without nannys telling us what we can and can not do as far as vaping goes. I've vaped anywhere I want to in MT, WY, ND, SD, and North Eastern ID. No one has ever made it an issue.

I'm sure that will change eventually. It was just a couple of years ago that I could decide for myself what speed to travel on the highway. The law said "reasonable and prudent" and left that up to me to decide what speeds are reasonable and prudent. Now, not so much. -- I was in WY a couple of weeks ago and saw a drive through window on a building advertizing tobacco, liquor, and pharmacy. The business on the other side of the building had a drive through window advertizing ammo and chicken wings. Utopia - Nirvana - Shangri-La exists just a couple of thousand miles to your West. I'm not sure how long it will last, but one can still pursue happiness where I live.

 

[Krib]

I don't really know if I want to get into some kind of east / west cultural fight here It's really hard to generalize too. I'm sure you have some preconceived notions about where I live... and I'm sure I have some about where you live. I'm betting that neither of them are completely the truth.

As for what I said about asking before you vape--if that isn't true where you are, that's convenient! I find it to be true in many places though. Especially since people don't always know what an ecig is.

 

[six]

I'm sure you have some preconceived notions about where I live... .

I have lived and worked where you live. My notions are from personal experience.

My point is that I don't understand why anyone puts up with being told what they can and can not do by people who have no idea what it is they are doing or why. (And yes - that could be read two ways... either way works). As far as vaping goes, the time has come to speak up. Pushing back against those who want to stop you from doing something they think you shouldn't do is not wrong... and when you consider the fact they don't even know what it is you are doing, why you are doing it, *AND* that they don't care to know, but still want to impose their will upon you, it isn't just not wrong, but is in fact, exactly right.

EDIT: ADD -- I meant to link this when I said it's time to push back. There is a pressing matter for New Yorkers. I didn't type my rant without a reason Really I didn't <sheepish grin> http://blog.casaa.org/2013/04/call-to-action-new-york-city-ordinances.html

 

[Krib]

Well, the reason why this happens seems obvious to me. You're exhaling (sometimes huge) clouds of vapor in someone's bar or restaurant. So you ask if they're ok with that. If where you live, nobody cares whether you vape, sweet bonus!

I think you might be arguing a different / larger issue with the vapers' rights though. Not the same thing as the bar / restaurant issue. And I don't really want to go off on that tangent because OP just asked if he'd be cool vaping in NYC.

 

[six]

I don't really want to go off on that tangent because OP just asked if he'd be cool vaping in NYC.

I added a link to my previous post. It sort of answers the OPs question and explains why I posted at all. I meant to post it the first time. Apparently, my age is showing (as it also seems is my libertarian streak).

It's important enough to post twice: CASAA: Call to Action! New York City Ordinances Would BAN Flavored E-Cigarettes And More -- Int 1020 & Int 1021 (UPDATED -- Action Needed!)

 

[Krib]

Oh, I hate the legislation... and Bloomberg. With a passion. And your libertarian streak is fine with me. I'm probably no spring chicken here either

I will say, I think ecigs will be banned in the same places that cigs are in most of the US over the next few years. I think it should be up to the establishment, but it just seems like it's going to happen. I would hate that, but I'd also trade it for open regulations on vape stores any day (if that trade existed).

 

[JR 137]

I love NYC and hate Bloomberg. Most New Yorkers aren't anything like Bloomberg. If you're vacationing in NYC, chances are pretty good that 99% of the people you'll see aren't NYers either.

As was said, bring enough stuff and you'll be fine. Smoking is banned in high-traffic public places like parks and Times Square. And for good reason. Vaping unfortunately gets lumped in there, although I don't think it technically has been banned yet.

As for fines for smoking in banned outdoor public places, it's the Police officer's discretion. If you're far enough away where you're not burning people or blowing smoke in their faces, you're fine. They'll also ask you to put it out first before writing a ticket. I'm pretty sure a smoker won't get fined unless he/she's being a real ....... Most NYC cops I've come across are pretty cool, especially if you're courteous to them. They've got more important things to worry about than busting smokers.

And there's no way they could ever ban smoking in outdoor places with the exception of very high traffic areas. You're not going to get pulled over for smoking a cigarette in your car.

Yeah, I know, I went on about smoking rather than vaping. Just trying to dispel absurd myths. People have crazy ideas about this place. It's really not as bad as what it's portrayed to be. Most people in NYC and NY State have the attitude of leave me alone and I'll leave you alone. Sure there's a small few who overshadow the rest.

 

[Dreaswi]

I'm visiting NYC right now and I have no issues. There is no smoking in the train - subway platforms and high traffic areas and that includes vaping but walking down a normal street I vape away as does my brother who lives here.
The store in Manhattan is a joke. Don't bother stopping to find it. Any store that tells me my setup is not good enough (ego twist with kanger MT3)because I still choose to smoke a few times a day and drops the F-bomb in front of customers will not get high ratings from me.

It only takes one person to start a revolution.

 

[Vap0rJay]

Get a mini vape model, get a mini clearo, hold your vape a little longer, hide your glowing button or whatever... Vape 100% unnoticed in the middle of a movie theater surrounded by 100s of people you dont know in very very close proximity to you. They can impose all the bans they want, unless your using a monster vape and blowing smokestacks of vapor --- bans will be impossible to ever enforce. Literally.

The movie bit, already been there done that a dozen times. Shoot... I've vaped with the VP in the bathroom stall next to me totally unnoticed (and i work in a healthcare related field so thats a huge no no). Just dont be stupid about it and you'll be fine.

EDIT: I forsee in the future actual functional pens that have a small atomizer up top for the "clicky" part --- so at most it'll look like your chewing on your pen, nothing more. If these literal pen e-cigs don't ever emerge, I know what I'm re-investing my 401k dollars into R+D for!!

 

[padejash]

Excellent responses, but let's remember, New York is not the first, nor will it be the last to have someone try to make a name for themselves, by attacking vapers and ecigarettes. I do feel better and I am prepared with juice etc. Many thanks.