Bensalem Adds Vaping To Public Smoking Ban

BENSALEM, PA — Bensalem's ban on smoking at publicly owned properties like parks and ball fields now includes vaping.

At their meeting Monday night, Bensalem Township Council voted unanimously to add electronic smoking devices to the township's existing smoking prohibition at township locations, both indoors and outdoors.

Those include parks, recreation facilities and other public meeting places, according to the ordinance.

"We are having a huge issue with vaping," Bensalem Public Safety Director Fred Harran told council members. "Besides the traditional, maybe tobacco products, and other products, there's THC being vaped. There's fentanyl being vaped now. There's all kinds of drugs beig vaped. it's almost undetected to the naked nose, if you will."

While considering the change, council members questioned language that appeared to ban "carrying" such devices. Harran clarified that the language refers to people actively using the devices and would not be used to ticket people who have e-cigarettes or vaping devices on their person on publicly owned property.

Harran said he believes Bensalem is the first municipality in Bucks County to add vaping to its smoking ban.