Shreveport Council Moves Forward With Vape Shop Restrictions After Teen’s Death

Shreveport leaders have approved tougher regulations on vape shops following a deadly shooting outside a North Market business where a 16-year-old was killed earlier this year.

What Do the Vape Changes Do?

This measure creates a permitting process, sets new rules for hours of operation, and adds age restrictions on sales. But the council is expected to tweak this new ordinance to deal with other businesses that also sell vape products.

New Permits and Business Requirements

Under these changes, vape shops will be required to get a permit through the Shreveport Police Department (SPD) in order to operate legally. The businesses would also have to pay an annual fee and someone at the store would have to be designated as a manager and be available in case of a problem.

City leaders say these changes will help increase accountability and make sure the stores are complying with state laws and not selling illegal products.

Age and Hours Restrictions Take Effect Immediately

Many of these changes will go into effect later this month. That will include requiring all customers to be at least 21 years old. Vape shops would also have a new 9pm closing time.

Council members say these changes mirror rules passed recently in Baton Rouge, but Shreveport’s ordinance goes a step further by adding the permitting process.

CAO Tom Dark says “we want to make sure we have a system in place to hold shops accountable.”

READ MORE: Vape Shops Busted for Selling Illegal Products

Permitting System Will Take More Time

City Attorney Marcus Edwards says the permitting portion of the ordinance will be delayed slightly. SPD officials have told the council they need additional time to ramp up for the changes. They will have to set up the application process and the reporting systems.

City leaders expect those requirements—such as fee collection, posted permits, and violation tracking are expected to be rolled out in the coming months.

Shreveport coordinated these changes with Louisiana State Police to make sure these businesses are regulated and not going rogue in selling all kinds of items.

Ordinance Triggered by Tragedy

The push for new regulations comes after a violent incident outside a vape shop on North Market Street earlier this summer. According to police, a large crowd of young people had gathered in the shop’s parking lot in the earlier morning hours when gunfire erupted, leaving a 16-year-old victim dead. City officials say the tragedy highlighted a growing problem with vape shops becoming late-night gathering spots for underage crowds.