Goodyear passes vaping ordinance, raises buying age to 21

PHOENIX – The Goodyear City Council unanimously passed an ordinance Monday night raising the legal age to buy vaping products to 21 from 18.

The Phoenix suburb is the first in the Valley to pass a directive against the sales of electronic cigarettes, tobacco and related devices and products.

Previously, retailers in the city were prohibited from selling vaping and tobacco products to minors. Now, retailers won’t be able to sell the nicotine products to anyone younger than 21.

“Vaping has taken the nation by storm … Our children are getting sick and our people are dying,” Mayor Georgia Lord said in a prepared video statement Monday.

“We have to take action.”

Tonight, #GoodyearAZ became the first city in the valley to pass a new law aimed at keeping vaping products away from those under 21 years old. pic.twitter.com/vZuZDwQSWA

— Goodyear, AZ (@GoodyearAZGov) September 24, 2019

The Arizona Department of Health Services has already identified three cases of vaping-related illnesses.

Symptoms include shortness of breath, fatigue, chest pain and vomiting.

The Centers for Disease Control began warning about vaping-related illnesses in August.

The U.S. surgeon general reported last year more than 3.6 million youth, including 1 in 5 high school students and 1 in 20 middle school students, use e-cigarettes.

The West Valley city’s statute matched state law which prohibits vaping or smoking at schools or at school events and expanded tobacco-smoking regulations.

City leaders will allow a 90-day grace period and begin a public education campaign right away.

Violators will face:

• A fine not exceeding $500 plus surcharges for a 1st violation within any 24-month period
• A fine not exceeding $1,000 plus surcharges for a 2nd violation within any 24-month period
• A fine not exceeding $2,500 plus surcharges for a 3rd violation within any 24-month period
• Any enterprise found guilty of the requirements of this section shall also be guilty of a misdemeanor, and punishable by a fine not to exceed $20,000

“While it may not make everyone happy, it will keep Goodyear safe and that’s what matters most,” Lord said in the statement.

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