Tompkins County bans e-cigarettes

• Electronic cigarettes use banned in the Tompkins County workplaces, restaurants and taverns
• Legislature approved ban unanimously
• During public hearing two spoke in support, two spoke against

ITHACA – Using electronic cigarettes in the Tompkins County workplaces, restaurants and taverns became illegal after a unanimous County Legislature vote.

E-cigarette devices closely mimic smoking and use vaporized liquid nicotine.

Before the vote Tuesday, legislators explained why they supported the ban.

“However bad these e-cigarettes are, it’s clear that real cigarettes are whole lot worse,” Legisaltor Peter Stein, D-Ithaca, said.

He added that the people who want to inhale e-cigarette vapor can go outside, the way smokers do.

“It’s important to take the effect on the people who can’t leave the room, much more than the people who can leave the room, and it’s for that reason that I’m supporting this resolution,” Stein said.

Kathy Luz Herrera, D-Ithaca, said she agreed with Stein. “I feel that the balance between personal liberties and public health here heavily weigh upon the side of public health,” she said.

Legisaltor Jim Dennis, D-Ulysses, said he is a cancer survivor and former smoker.

“If there are people who vote against me because I support banning e-cigarettes, I’m good with that, as long as I don’t have to pay for their lung cancer treatments and oxygen bottles that they have to carry around at the end of this.”

The action amends Chapter 72 of the county code to include a prohibition of electronic nicotine delivery systems anywhere smoking tobacco is prohibited.

At the public hearing before the vote, two spoke in support of the amendment, and two people — who said the devices have been crucial in enabling them to quit — spoke against.

Follow Andrew Casler on Twitter: @AndrewCasler