California city votes to ban electronic cigarettes in enclosed public places
A Northern California city has voted to ban electronic cigarettes in enclosed public spaces, including fenced parks.
The Contra Costa Times reports the Richmond City Council voted Tuesday to adopt a new ordinance that would prohibit e-cigarettes.
Violations can be met with fines of up to $1,000, City leaders and health advocates believe the smokeless devices may be dangerous to smokers and those around them.
E-cigarettes allow users to inhale nicotine vapor instead of tobacco fumes. They are not yet regulated by the federal Food and Drug Administration agency.
E-cigarette sales surged from about 50,000 in 2008 to 3.5 million in 2012, and the number of children who reported trying the product has increased, according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report.
