Travel and Vaping Vaping and Driving-Could be very illegal, but read on

[tonyorion]

Every thread that looks at the e cig behind the wheel has looked at it from the the standpoint of the police looking at a PV as a freakish drug delivery system.

I would like to examine the electronic cigarette from a different perspective, and that really depends on where you live. Last time I looked, there were some 17 states and Canada that banned driving and texting/talking on a cell phone. That was last year when I returned my droid because it did not have blue tooth hands free voice activated dialing, and I drive a stick shift. That has changed-so the droid is fully hands free now.

Some of the states ban the use of handheld electronic devices while driving and have left the legislation very generic. Other states are far more specific and refer to texting, telephone dialing, portable CD and mp3 players. There is going to be a lot a room for interpretation here.

Even if you could convince the local law enforcement that you are not taking in any illicit drugs with your Darwin, they could still nail you for using an electronic device while driving.

Just because the FDA treats vaping as a tobacco product, it does not mean that your local police will.

I have seen two serious accidents caused by women screaming at their cell phones while driving and countless near misses so I fully support the legislation.

This could really be a sticky one or not?

 

[MustangSallie]

I would think the only problem here would be as you said, convincing the cop who pulled you over that you're not smoking an illicit drug. Once that's out of the way, I highly doubt there would be any "twisting" of the law in order to charge the driver with driving while using an electronic device. I think the intent of the law is clear and I doubt a cop would be inclined to think otherwise. That is, as long as the driver keeps their cool and doesn't do anything to aggravate the situation OR the cop.

 

[guido61]

It's not the device to cause an accident. It's is the distraction.
I can be distracted by a fly buzzing around my head, or by tuning the car stereo if i dont have remote on the steering wheel, as well as trying to set up the temperature on my airco, or sipping some coke from a can.
When i was younger i bumped another car just because i was looking at a girl on the curbside who had a great ....
What we need to do? ban car stereo, airco, and put all women around under a burka?
I find it reasonable to expect people to use all possible devices to avoid distractions, but extremely stupid to forbid something that may be going to be distracting.
just my 2 cents.

 

[MagnusEunson]

Unfortunately stupid rules and regulations get passed and enforced all the time. I can see it now... city councilmen talking about who-knows-what nicotine levels and distractions and ......... eliquids. And how mods are dangerous unregulated electronic devices. Oh bloody sin, I actually ~can~ see this going on. Politicians. Sleep deprivation has me worrying about silly things now (I hope). -Magnus

 

[Valsacar]

I don't know about Canada, but in the US you could easily argue (and win) that it is not the intent of the law to ban electronic cigarettes. If they took it that way, anyone with a pace maker wouldn't be able to drive because they were using an electronic device while driving. Hell, most cars these days are more electronic than mechanical, so you just can't drive at all because driving in itself is using an electronic device.

 

[Ande]

I'm not so sure- I wouldn't drive while texting. I could probably do it safely in a lot of circumstances, but...when something/one runs into the road, your reactions are just that much slower.

Likewise, I wouldn't want to try to DO anything with my ecig while driving. I could use it okay, I suppose, but it's always that slippery slope. I was vaping while driving (no problem) but then the cart went dry, so I changed it (really shouldn't do that, sort of distracting) And it was my last cart, so I was trying to drip on it from the bottle (totally stupid) when I rear ended the police officer...

You see what I mean. Most places in Europe don't allow cell phones while driving either. And I have to say, that makes sense.

Easy for me to say, though- for most of the last 10 years, I've lived in mega-cities with good public transport, and I very rarely have to drive.


Ande

 

[tonyorion]

The analogy that a pacemaker is an electronic device and could cause a distraction while driving is is specious. I am no medical doctor, but if you did carry your pacemaker in your hand, you really have a serious problem.

Since a motor vehicle has the potential to wreak an incredible amount of damage to other human beings, the operator does have a responsibility to use common sense and caution while driving.

While some of you might consider safety laws as stupid and an infringement upon your civil liberties, not observing these laws violates my must fundamental right: the right to life.

As the victim of two serious accidents caused by other drivers' stupidity (a drunk lost control and hit me on my motorcycle; a kid ran a red light and broadsided me. Trust me, these accidents hurt!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!), I do not have much tolerance for the notion that stupidity while driving is a constitutional right.

Since a whopping 28% of vehicular accidents are caused by talking on cell phone/texting, distractions while driving are a serious problem. As Ande already stated, it is most definitely possible to be distracted by an e cig while driving.

All I ask is to use your common sense when driving and vaping. Dripping and driving, for instance, is not showing common sense and puts other people at risk.

 

[bsampson]

I was thinking about this the other day. It would be interesting to be pulled over, and then try to explain the bottle of flavored nicotine to an officer that had never heard of such a thing.

 

[wv2win]

Changing the radio station or CD in your car is also operating an electronic device while driving. I think vaping while driving is a big non-issue.

 

[cookiebun]

If anything I've found it easer to vape and drive than smoke and drive. I'm not looking down at an ashtray, not hunting for a lighter, not worrying about dropping ashes all over myself and the car. Just put the thing to your mouth and press the button.

 

[Sandrita]

Here in Spain it is illegal to drive while talking on a mobile phone and the police enforce this law quite rigorously. I have used my e cig while driving in the past with no issues from the police but to be honest I don't vape while driving so often because I find it difficult to drive on the twisty roads over hear, changing up and down gears all the time etc..!

 

[RichardLOZ]

Its pretty much illegal in most countries at talk on a cell phone whilst driving, however it is still legal to change the radio station, change the CD, change the mp3 player, talk through a microphone into a CB radio. Talk about double standards. One of these days our lawmakers "might" actually get their act together and have some laws that are consistent and not wide open to interpretation.

JMHO

Richard

 

[hankbizzo5]

I think the air bag deploy would be the coup de gras..... Only real thing i would be really concerned about!!!!!

 

[MASTER0FDAMPF]

If possible jsut use a pv that looks like a cig. They wont notice the difference unless they are following you for a bit.

 

[wv2win]

If possible jsut use a pv that looks like a cig. They wont notice the difference unless they are following you for a bit.

Why use a PV that vapes poorly to avoid something that might happen to one out of ever 50,000 people who vape? This is all about something that is not a problem.

 

[quittin4mykids]

I will be honest, I have been more likely to run off the road while looking for my lighter then while hitting the 'talk' button on my phone. or puffing on my PV.

and I always glance down to change the channel on the radio, or turn it down- or the Air- I have been known to reach across the truck to close a vent on the passenger side- and have gotten so 'into' a good song that I end up doing 95 in a 70. (good songs make you go faster....) but I guess since I usually have 4 kids and am always carrying on a conversation, its not a big deal for me to talk on the phone. Or to vape-

My husband drives a big rig, and uses his phone and or CB all the time- heck he has two of them in there.

Matter of fact, I actually pay less attention to the road when I am turning on my cruise control then when I am puffing or taking a drink, or setting the phone back in my lap.

For me the radio, phone, cruise, AC/heat, are all about the same- my PV is not even IN that catagory. and its MUCH safer than lighting a cig- where I had to FIND the pack, get one out. get it in my mouth, Turn down the AC or roll up the window, find the lighter, look down to get the flame ON the cig, light it, and then smoke. AND always looking AT the window to get the ashes OUT the little crack, etc. with the PV, the biggest problem I have is sometimes picking it up and putting the wrong end in my mouth...

 

[rainkeltoia]

I think that most people have it right here, while there may be laws that are ambiguous on electronic devices, that's to include things like GPS (programming while driving), cell phones/texting, programming mp3 players (if i get pulled over for pushing "next" on my Ipod we'll have some issues officer), and the like, utilizing an e-cig is much less of a distraction than finding a lighter. Personally I drove to Canada with my E-cig, had my carts I thought I'd need between stops ready (and opened) and easily popped one off and put the next one on. With a tank it'll be even easier. No fussing with a pack of smokes, digging one out, finding a lighter, watching so I don't burn my hair while trying to hit the end of the smoke, putting the lighter away, and making sure the ashes go OUT the window, not hit the window (as the above poster mentioned) Just push a button (or not, if you use an auto) and away you go. I think preparation is the only big thing for e-cigs, have your carts ready, and if you're a dripper consider using a tank or something else of that nature to cut out the dangers involved. If someone were to get pulled and charged for using an e-cig with a cart or tank (I do think dripping is a bit more dangerous than lighting an analog) then I can see some legal battles ensuing.

 

[ec!gg]

I completely agree with you quittin4mykids. I remember spending so many times looking for my darn lighter. I usually always have my PV in my pocket so I never forget where it is.

 

[MustangSallie]

How many times did you panic when you dropped a cigarette in the car while driving. How safe is that trying to find a lit cig on the floor while driving 65 mph on the highway?!? 8-o

 

[adam.phillips]

Glad I own a REO it's all mechanical.