Surfside Beach has announced that it will begin citing individuals for vaping on the beach, despite the fact that the town’s current ordinance only prohibits smoking, which is defined as a lighted product. The Surfside Beach Police Department has stated that it will charge vaping on the beach the same as smoking a cigarette, with a penalty of a civil infraction of $10 to $25.
Grand Strand Beach Vaping Rules
While Surfside Beach is the only town on the Grand Strand to enforce a vaping ban, other towns have their own rules. North Myrtle Beach has passed an ordinance that will go into effect on January 1, 2027, prohibiting vaping on the beach, with a penalty of a $100 infraction. Atlantic Beach, on the other hand, has no ordinance prohibiting smoking or vaping on the beach.
The City of Myrtle Beach, unincorporated Horry County, and Georgetown County also have no rules prohibiting vaping on the beach. The state of South Carolina has a law that prohibits smoking in indoor facilities, but it does not mention e-cigarettes or vaping.
Enforcement and Penalties
The Surfside Beach Police Department will enforce the vaping ban, with the penalty being a civil infraction of $10 to $25. North Myrtle Beach’s ordinance assigns enforcement to the city manager or an authorized designee, with a penalty of a $100 infraction.
Original reporting: MyrtleBeachSC News — read the source article.
