Traveling has become an essential part of our lives. And with approximately 20 million vapers and 1 billion tobacco smokers all over the world, we can safely assume that there’re a lot of individuals who want to keep vaping and smoking on the go.
Travellers should consider several tips while planning their journeys in order to avoid getting into trouble. It is especially true for vapers. The rules regarding tobacco are well-known. But e-cigarette legislation is constantly changing.
Traveling by Plane
I recently saw some Facebook posts from flight attendants with US Airways recalling the days when the passengers puffed on their cigarettes onboard and cabins were full of smoke. Middle-aged or older people can comprehend that. Young smokers can only dream about the possibility to enjoy a cigarette or best portable vaporizer during a flight.
Neither smoking nor vaping is allowed onboard. In fact, Australia was the first country to ban smoking on domestic flights in 1987. The federal government of the US followed the example in 1990. And only in 2000, smoking was prohibited on flights between the United States and foreign destinations. Today, almost all commercial flights in the world are smoke-free.
However, federal law doesn’t cover the rules on vaping in American airports. It remains at the discretion of each manager structure to decide on the regulations. Make inquiries about whether a particular airport is vape- or smoke-friendly prior to your flight.
Transporting your e-cig won’t be a problem if you follow general requirements:
- Passengers can bring up e-cig batteries in carry-on luggage. It’s a worldwide rule.
Batteries are mostly powered by lithium. This substance becomes explosive when exposed to extreme temperatures or damage. There were a few cases of fire caused by self-ignition of these devices. Some pilots even had to make emergency landings. That’s why you cannot put your batteries in check-in luggage.
- You can have other vaping gear, such as empty tanks, chargers and other accessories in check-in luggage.
- Store e-liquid in bottles that contain only up to 100 ml and place them in a transparent plastic case.
- Take your vaporizer apart before passing through the airport security. They often ask passengers to do it to make sure they don’t have any contraband within the devices.
Vaping and Smoking Laws in the US, Europe and Asia
Vaping and smoking is legal in the US. Just be conscious that if you can’t smoke in some public place, you probably can’t vape there.
If you’re going to fly into a different country, I strongly recommend you to check the local laws in advance. The list of countries you can’t vape in is long. It includes:
- Argentina
- Austria
- Belgium
- Brazil
- Brunei
- Cambodia
- Columbia
- Egypt
- Indonesia
- Jordan
- Malaysia
- Mexico
- Oman
- Panama
- Singapore
- Taiwan
- Tajikistan
- Thailand
- Turkey
- United Arab Emirates
- Uraguay
- Venezula.
Some places don’t completely prohibit vaping but have strict regulations:
- Australia
- Denmark
- Finland
- Japan
- Hong Kong
- Hungary
- India
- Iran
- New Zealand
- Norway
- South Africa
- Sweden
- Switzerland.
It is important to research the vaping laws of your destination. Otherwise, you may be forced to leave your best portable vaporizer in the airport.
People who dare to violate the ban may face a hefty fine or potential jail time. Of course, your e-cig will be confiscated.
Lucky for you, plenty of countries allow vaping. You will have no problems with vaping in Canada, Spain, Netherlands, The Czech Republic, and Jamaica.
Travelling by Car
Many people don’t want to part with their traditional cigarettes or best vaporizer for many hours. That’s why some opt for a trip in the car. Vaping or smoking on the road is also an intricate issue.
Smoking at the wheel is not an offence in itself. But it can lead to careless driving and could land you in trouble with the law. We know that car accidents are sometimes caused by a smoking driver.
The same applies to vaping. Using e-cigarettes while driving is not illegal. However, local decisions made by law-enforcement in many places may vary. One vaper from New York earned a traffic ticket for using his vaporizer behind the wheel. The police officer testified that Jason Dewing was breaking the law by operating a “portable electronic device” while being on the road. In England, drivers can face a £2,500 fine and a driving ban for smoking an e-cigarette.
To avoid some of the potential risks when vaping and driving, keep in mind a few safety tips:
- Open the window or the sunroof. There is always a danger that e-vapor will decrease your visibility. Vapers who like massive vapor clouds usually produced by sub-ohm devices can fog up their windshield. An open car window will help the vapor to dissipate quicker, especially if you try to exhale towards it.
- Vaping behind the wheel may be actually fine. But it is not a good idea to refill e-juice or change batteries on the go. Make sure your device is set up before starting your car. If you need to fix the things, just pull the car over.
- Don’t try to prepare or adjust your e-cig while sitting at a red light. It will take your eyes off the road and therefore can be dangerous.
- Never throw used tanks, empty e-liquid containers, or other old e-cig parts out the window. This litter can damage car tires. Children and animals can pick it up. Vaping may not be against the law, but littering is. Be an environment-conscious person!
Please, follow the advice given above. Make sure that your car is free of vapor. If a vehicle is filled with thick fog, the police have the right to stop a driver on safety grounds. And if the worst case scenario comes true and you end up getting into or causing an accident, media could encourage legal implications for vaping as a whole. Be responsible!
Whether it is a business flight to Tokyo, visiting Eiffel Tower in Paris, or taking a road trip across the country, keep your vaporizer with you to make your experience better!
