Decatur Bans E-Cigarettes on Public Property

DECATUR, GA -- No more vaping on public property in Decatur.

The city commission Monday night unanimously voted to add electronic cigarettes to the list of smoking items banned in public places in the city.

Unlike the city's controversial push to ban public smoking several years ago, the addition of e-cigarettes went smoothly, gaining approval with little discussion.

The vote was to update Decatur's clean-air ordinance.

The update adds "e-cigarette" to the ordinance's definition of smoking that already includes cigarettes, cigars, and pipes. It also adds "nicotine based liquid" to the substances that may not be consumed.

The changes also expand what are considered "public parks" under the ordinance.

In Decatur, that includes all city parks, the downtown MARTA Plaza, the Decatur Cemetery and the Old Courthouse lawn.

"The proposed changes closely follow the provisions and definitions of the DeKalb County Clean Air Ordinance to create an ordinance more consistent with regulations in areas immediately surrounding the City of Decatur," reads a memo to City Manager Peggy Merriss from city staff.