Vaping while driving in Vermont is subject to a combination of public health, tobacco, and distracted driving laws. Here’s what you need to know in 2025:
Vaping and Driving: The Basics
- It is not outright illegal for adults to vape while driving in Vermont—but there are important restrictions and exceptions.
Key Legal Restrictions
1. Vaping With Children in the Car
- It is illegal to vape in a motor vehicle if it is occupied by a child in a car seat or booster seat (required for children ages 7 and under). This law is part of Vermont’s expanded Clean Indoor Air Act and is strictly enforced to protect children from secondhand vapor exposure.
2. Distracted Driving Laws
- Using a handheld electronic device while driving is illegal in Vermont. If your vaping device is considered a “portable electronic device” and you are holding or manipulating it while driving, you could be cited for distracted driving. The law allows for hands-free use only, and first offenses can result in fines up to $200.
- For drivers under 18, any use of handheld electronic devices while operating a vehicle is prohibited.
3. General Clean Air and Public Health Laws
- Vaping is prohibited in many public places and certain outdoor areas, but these restrictions do not generally extend to private vehicles unless children are present.
Summary Table: Vaping and Driving in Vermont
| Scenario | Legal Status |
|---|---|
| Adult vaping while driving (no children present) | Generally legal, but subject to distracted driving laws |
| Vaping with child (age 7 or under) in car seat/booster | Illegal |
| Holding/manipulating vape device while driving | Could be illegal (distracted driving) |
| Driver under 18 using vape or device while driving | Illegal |
- Adults may vape and drive in Vermont as long as they are not distracted and there are no children in car seats or booster seats present.
- It is illegal to vape in a car with young children, and you can be cited for distracted driving if handling the device interferes with safe operation of the vehicle.
- For drivers under 18, any use of handheld electronic devices—including vaping devices—while driving is illegal.
Always prioritize safety and be aware that local enforcement may vary. If in doubt, avoid vaping while driving—especially if you must handle the device.
Sources:
- https://casaa.org/get-involved/state-locator/vermont/
- https://www.enjuris.com/vermont/car-accident-laws/distracted-driving/
- https://www.healthvermont.gov/sites/default/files/documents/pdf/hpdp_act108_overview_FINAL_0.pdf
- https://www.vermontpublic.org/local-news/2024-03-28/e-cigarette-usage-doubles-bill-ban-flavored-tobacco
- https://vermontstatecannabis.org/laws