Ignorance of the law is not an excuse, even when smoking or vaping. So don’t wait to be fined for smoking in the wrong places. When you are in Ontario, and not in a Vaping store, there are prohibited places for smoking or vaping. Do you know that when you vape or smoke in the wrong place in Ontario and you are caught, you will be charged with an offense and fined? Hold your breath because the first offence will cost you $1,000 and the second offense will cost you $5000. According to the Smoke-Free Ontario Act, 2017, you are not permitted to smoke or vape in any enclosed workplace, enclosed public place, or any other place designated as smoke-free or vape-free.

To help you know where not to vape or smoke, here is a list of places to remember.

• Restaurants and bar patios. You are not permitted to smoke or vape on any bar or restaurant patio, including the public areas within 9 meters of the patio. Good news! Any branch of the Royal Canadian Legion or veterans’ organization that established an uncovered patio prior to November 18, 2013, is exempt. There, you can both smoke and vape, but not with cannabis or a controlled substance.
• Vehicles and boats. Drivers and passengers are not permitted to smoke or vape inside the car or any motor vehicle if anyone inside is under the age of 15. Exceptions to this rule are travelers who use medical cannabis without smoking or vaping, residential vehicles, and boats that are parked or docked somewhere.
• Childcare facilities and related places. Those premises of any childcare center or other facility that offers an early childhood program or service. Even if no children are present, places that provide home childcare must be smoke-free and vape-free at all times. This includes any outside areas where children play.
• Schools. Any public or private school: outdoor grounds, including playgrounds and sports fields; interior space; and public spaces within 20 meters of the school grounds.
• Playgrounds or publicly owned sports areas. Children’s playgrounds or in public spaces such as publicly owned athletic grounds, fan/viewing areas, or public areas within 20 meters of these locations
• Reserved outdoor seating venues. This means reserved seating areas of outdoor sports arenas or entertainment venues. However, the legislation does not include general entry zones.
• Community recreational facilities. These are enclosed public space or enclosed workplace that provides athletic and recreational programming to the local community and is owned or maintained by one of the following organizations: a not-for-profit corporation a charitable organization the province a municipality
• Enclosed workplaces. An enclosed workplace is defined as any section of a building, structure, or vehicle with a roof in which an employee works or visits, even during off-hours, and includes: an office building, a construction site, a trailer office, a delivery vehicle.
• Enclosed public places and government office buildings. An enclosed public area is any component of a building, structure, or vehicle that is covered by a roof and is open to the public. It makes no difference whether or not there is a price to enter.

Other places such as sheltered areas, hospitals and other health care facilities, residential care facilities, hotels, motels, and inns

So next time you feel like vaping or smoking, check the place where you’re at.