Discussions set to start on e-cigarette ban for Waukesha County grounds

NOW: Discussions set to start on e-cigarette ban for Waukesha County grounds
NEXT:

WAUKESHA COUNTY, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Waukesha County is taking aim at smokeless tobacco. Discussion Monday could advance an e-cigarette ban for all county grounds.

The proposal is presently sitting with the executive committee. Committee members will be here Monday to talk about snuffing out smokeless tobacco in places that already ban cigarettes.

Tasty flavors attracted Savannah Jug to e-cigarettes when she was 18. Five years later, she'd like to stop.

"I feel out of breath all the time," said Savannah Jug of Waukesha.

It's why Jake Szaniawski quit after college.

"Whether you're exercising, golfing, walking around, like going up stairs, getting out of breath easier, it's noticeable," said Jake Szaniawski of Waukesha.

In their 20s, they say they support a move by the county to ban e-cigarettes at county facilities.

"Because it's not a good thing, it's just a habit," said Jug.

"We don't know the side effects to other people yet. So, we don't know what that does to other people," said Szaniawski.

The Waukesha County board will hear arguments Monday why vaping should be added to Section 3-2 of the Waukesha County Code of Ordinances, which establishes a smoke-free environment at all county buildings and facilities.

"My understanding is smoking tobacco has been prohibited in Waukesha County buildings and sections of county parks due to a county ordinance that was passed way back in 1990. At those times, e-cigarettes didn't exist, they're not expressly included in the county's smoke free environment," said Waukesha County supervisor Larry Nelson of District 18.

But the new wording in Code 3-2 could disrupt a positive change for people like Alec Lambrecht, who's relied on e-cigarettes to break his cigarette addiction.

"And I found that there was a better alternative. So vaping helps? Vaping is better for you than cigarettes yea. It's the lesser of two evils," said Alec Lambrecht of Waukesha.

If vaping is added to the list, presumably, it too would be allowed in already-established "smoking areas" at the county jail, courthouse, health and human services center and mental health center.

If the proposal advances Monday, it would move on to a vote by the full county board a week later.

Share this article: