Is Vaping and Driving Illegal in Rhode Island? (2025 Guide)

Known for its stunning coastline and rich maritime history, Rhode Island is also a state with a dynamic and increasingly stringent approach to public health regulations, including those for vaping. As drivers navigate the Ocean State, a common question arises: Is it illegal to vape while driving? This guide provides an in-depth look at Rhode Island’s regulations as of mid-2025, unpacking the laws, the hidden risks, and what every driver needs to know.

Is It Illegal to Vape While Driving in Rhode Island?

No, there is no specific Rhode Island law that explicitly prohibits an adult (21+) from vaping a nicotine product while driving a private vehicle. However, the act is not without legal risk, as it can lead to citations under broader distracted driving or careless driving statutes if it impairs your ability to operate the vehicle safely.

How Vaping Becomes Distracted Driving

The primary legal risk for drivers comes from Rhode Island’s comprehensive distracted driving laws. While the state’s hands-free law (R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-22-31) primarily targets the use of handheld mobile phones for communication, the principles of safe driving apply to all in-car activities. Law enforcement officers have the discretion to cite a driver if they believe vaping is causing a distraction that compromises road safety. This can occur in several ways:

• Visual Distraction: Exhaling large, dense vapor clouds can temporarily obscure a driver’s vision through the windshield or mirrors. Looking away from the road to find or adjust a vape device is also a clear visual distraction.
• Manual Distraction: The physical act of handling a vape device—picking it up, bringing it to your mouth, adjusting settings, or refilling it—requires taking at least one hand off the steering wheel, which can impair vehicle control.
• Cognitive Distraction: Focusing on the act of vaping, even for a moment, diverts mental attention from the primary task of driving.

If these actions lead to unsafe driving, such as swerving, failing to maintain a lane, or a delayed reaction to traffic, an officer could issue a citation for offenses like careless driving or driving without due care. Penalties for a distracted driving ticket can include fines (e.g., $85-$100 for a first offense) and points on your license.

When Vaping in a Vehicle is Banned

While the general act of vaping nicotine while driving falls into a gray area, there are specific situations where it is explicitly illegal under Rhode Island law.

It is critically important to distinguish between nicotine and cannabis. The Rhode Island Cannabis Act (§ 21-28.11-29) establishes an absolute ban on smoking or vaporizing cannabis in any motor vehicle, whether it is moving or parked in a public place. This applies to both the driver and any passengers. Vaping THC while driving can lead to a civil fine of $200, and if impairment is observed, it can result in a far more serious DUI (Drugged-Driving) charge under § 31-27-2, which carries penalties of up to one year in jail, fines up to $800, and a lengthy license suspension.

Rhode Island’s public health and workplace safety laws create further restrictions:

• Work Vehicles: Under the Public Health and Workplace Safety Act (§ 23-20.10-4), a company vehicle is considered a “place of employment.” Therefore, vaping is prohibited in any vehicle used for work, such as a delivery van or a rideshare vehicle during a shift. Violations can result in fines of $250 per incident.
• Childcare and School Transport: State regulations for childcare and school transportation explicitly ban all tobacco use, including vaping, in any vehicle used for transporting children.

Interestingly, while Rhode Island has a 2014 law that allows officers to issue a verbal warning to adults smoking combustible tobacco in a car with children present, it does not currently impose a fine for this specific act. This courtesy warning is typically extended to nicotine vaping. However, there are recurring legislative proposals at the State House aiming to convert this warning into a fineable offense, so this is an area of law that could change in the future.

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General Vaping Laws in Rhode Island

Understanding the state’s overall stance on vaping provides important context for its driving-related rules. As of 2025, Rhode Island has some of the strictest vaping regulations in the nation:

• Age Restriction: The legal age to purchase, possess, or use any vaping product is 21 years old.
• Flavor Ban: Effective January 1, 2025, Rhode Island has a comprehensive ban on the sale of all flavored vaping products, with the exceptions of tobacco and menthol flavors. This ban has faced legal challenges but remains in effect.
• Taxation: The state imposes a significant excise tax on vaping products: $0.50 per milliliter for prefilled/disposable products and 10% of the wholesale cost for open-system products.
• Public Use Ban: The state’s Clean Indoor Air Act treats vaping the same as smoking, prohibiting it in most indoor public places, including workplaces, restaurants, and bars.

Penalties at a Glance

This table summarizes the potential legal consequences for vaping in various driving-related scenarios in Rhode Island:

Best Practices for Rhode Island Drivers

Given the legal nuances and clear safety risks, the most responsible course of action is to avoid vaping while driving. To ensure safety and full legal compliance:

• Prioritize Driving: Your full attention should always be on the road. Any non-essential activity can wait.
• Pull Over Safely: If you feel the need to vape, find a safe and legal place to park your vehicle first.
• Understand Your Vehicle’s Status: Remember that if you are driving a company vehicle or transporting children for a daycare or school, vaping is explicitly illegal.
• Never Vape Cannabis in a Car: The ban on vaping THC in a vehicle is absolute for both drivers and passengers.

Conclusion:

While Rhode Island law does not have a statute that makes it explicitly illegal for an adult to vape a nicotine product while driving their private car, the practice is fraught with legal risk. The most prudent and responsible choice for all drivers in Rhode Island is to keep their vaping sessions separate from their driving time, ensuring their safety and the safety of everyone else on the road.

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Matthew Ma

Marketing at Ecigator

With over a decade of experience in the e-cigarette industry, Matthew Ma is a seasoned expert in both the manufacturing and usage aspects of vaping products. His extensive background has provided him with a deep understanding of the intricacies and evolving dynamics of e-cigarettes.

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