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E-Cigarette Ban Begins In Denton County

DENTON (CBS 11 NEWS) -   Denton County became the first of North Texas' four large counties to ban e-cigarette use in its county-owned buildings and vehicles.

From now on, employees, volunteers, or any member of the public will have to stay outside if they want to use an e-cigarette.

The new policy, which went into effect Wednesday, is getting mixed reviews. At the North Texas Vapor Shop just down Hickory Street from the courthouse square, some people like Matt Howard, an employee who uses e-cigarettes to keep from smoking, says the policy is no big deal and won't keep people from vaping.

"I think it's important as vapers to respect the people around us so if you're going to be in a building in an enclosed building anyway, it kind of should come as common knowledge, you shouldn't be puffing on your e-cig for hours on end."

Others we spoke with, such as David Sprabeary, whose wife has used e-cigarettes to quit smoking, disagrees with the policy, but understands how those who don't vape feel."If a person doesn't want to be around it, then maybe yeah, ok, they got as much right as you do, but if nobody complains, then I think maybe they ought to be allowed."

While Denton County commissioners made the policy change Tuesday, Dallas County is considering a similar ban. It's not being considered in Collin or Tarrant Counties. The city of Denton is considering adding e-cigarettes to its no-smoking ban passed in 2013.

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