Indoor e-cig ban vote coming Monday in St. Charles

St. Charles aldermen will vote to punish illegal tobacco sales as much as the city does illegal alcohol sales when they meet Monday, and they'll ban indoor use of e-cigarettes where smoking is already banned.

Aldermen unanimously approved the rules while hearing the full proposal as a committee this week.

Mayor Ray Rogina said it's important for the city to treat illegal tobacco and alcohol sales with the same severity. Rogina also serves as the city's liquor commissioner.

"We were woefully inadequate on penalties for the sale of tobacco to a minor as opposed to the sale of alcohol to a minor," Rogina told aldermen. "It was a slap on the wrist. We're not going to tolerate the sale of alcohol or tobacco to a minor without significant penalty."

That significant penalty includes a fine of as much as $1,000 to the tobacco sales license holder. Such a fine would mark the first time the city would penalize anyone other than the store clerk for the illegal transaction.

Fans of vaping will also be subject to a $500 fine for the first time if they switch on an e-cigarette or smokeless tobacco device in a public place, such as a restaurant or public building, under the new law. The e-cigarette ban would not apply to specialty tobacco or vaping shops in the city.

Police Chief James Keegan said his department is not inundated with complaints about e-cigarette use, but he said the vapor can be viewed as a nuisance. Chicago enacted a similar ban earlier this year.

"Although it's not of epidemic proportions - we don't have any problems in St. Charles - we want to keep people free of smoke or vapor," Keegan said. "It gives us a little bit more authority to make sure our dealers are responsible."

None of the city's 31 licensed dealers of tobacco products showed up to rally against the new fines or ban. They'll get one more chance when the city council takes a final vote at Monday's meeting, which starts at 7 p.m. at city hall, 2 E. Main St.