Laserfiche WebLink
City of <br /> -C ' Frequently Asked Questions <br /> L. % Electronic Cigarette Usage in Elk River <br /> Rive r <br /> 1. Why was this ordinance adopted? <br /> To protect public health. Scientific research has identified adverse health effects associated with <br /> e-cigarettes vapors. Regulation of e-cigarettes can reduce confusion in public areas where <br /> smoking is prohibited. <br /> 2. What does this ordinance do? <br /> There are five principal objectives: <br /> a. Protects the health, safety, and welfare of the people in Elk River from the effects of <br /> secondhand smoke by ensuring the ability to breathe air uncontaminated by secondhand <br /> smoke and vapors produced by e-cigarettes. <br /> b. Prioritizes your right to breathe in public spaces over the use e-cigarettes. <br /> c. Prevents secondhand smoke and vapor exposure by unwilling employees,patrons, and the <br /> general public while in public indoor areas and places of employment. <br /> d. Protects the health of vulnerable populations including children, the elderly, and those with <br /> chronic health conditions; and <br /> e. Maintains consistency with existing laws for enforcement of clean air in public indoor areas. <br /> The ordinance regulates the use of e-cigarettes in the same fashion as smoking in accordance <br /> with the Minnesota Clean Indoor Air Act (MCIAA). <br /> 3. Where does the ordinance apply. <br /> The ordinance applies throughout the City of Elk River. <br /> 4. When will this become effective? <br /> The ordinance is effective 60 days after it is published in the city's official newspaper. <br /> S. Who is responsible for complying with this ordinance? <br /> The responsibility rests with the person responsible for places in which smoking/vaping is <br /> prohibited. Under the MCIAA, smoking is prohibited in virtually all indoor public places and <br /> indoor places of employment,including the following: <br /> ■ Bars,restaurants, and private clubs <br /> ■ Offices and industrial workplaces <br /> ■ Retail stores <br /> ■ Common areas of rental apartment buildings,hotels, and motels <br /> ■ Public transportation,including taxis <br /> ■ Work vehicles,if more than one person is present. Home offices with more than one or <br /> more on-site employees, or used as a place to meet or deal with customers-during work <br /> hours <br /> ■ Public and private educational facilities <br /> ■ Auditoriums, arenas, and meeting rooms <br /> ■ Daycare premises <br />