The Shreveport City Council is commended for passing the vape shop ordinance. It's a very needed start, and a good one at that. As in all laws, the devil is in the enforcement details. And that is where major amendments need to be added in a short time interval.
Here are the key provisions of this ordinance:
1. As of Jan. 2, 2026, vape shops must obtain a permit from the Shreveport Police Department (SPD).
2. As of Jan. 2, 2026, vape shop employees must obtain a permit from SPD;
2. On the effective date of the ordinance, all vape shops must close at 9 p.m.;
3.On the effective date of the ordinance, all persons must be 21 to enter vape shops;
4. On the effective date of the ordinance, no new vape shops can be opened within 300 feet of playgrounds, schools, churches, public libraries:
5. "Vape shops" are defined as retailers who derive more than 25% of retail sales from vape products.
The ordinance will be effective upon the mayor's signature, which should be this money.
To their credit both Councilman Alan Jackson and Councilman Grayson Boucher raised concerns at the Shreveport City Council meeting on the application of the ordinance. Both of them voted for the measure, requesting prompt amendment to address their concerns.
Jackson and Grayson expressed these reservations:
a. The ordinance may, in effect, send business from bona fide vape shops to nearby convenience stores/gas stations that sell vape products that are not required by sales volume to obtain a vape shop permit.
b. That the determination of the permit sales threshold is not easily determinable because the reports from the Caddo Sales and Use Tax Commission only list TOTAL retail sales, with no breakdown on products sold. Thus, the reports will NOT indicate the amount of vape product sales. They suggested an easier enforcement standard such as the amount of shelf space for vape product sales.
c. Those under 21 have easy access to retail venues that sell vape products such as convenience stores and gas stations.
SPD Chief Wayne Smith praised the ordinance as a needed tool for enforcement just like licensing for bars and liquor stores. The sale of vape products and illegal drugs to local area youth was a compelling reason for this legislation.
Additionally, the recent shooting/killing at a vape shop parking lot at 1:30 a.m. was also a driving force in the passage of this ordinance. This unfortunate 16 year old who lost her life was at this location after curfew hours. This person was inside the vape shop and the shots were reportedly fired from the parking lot outside the store.
The problem of large crowds in parking lots has been a problem for law enforcement in the past. The early closing date of shops may mitigate the large number of unruly crowds that gather and often lead to violence.
Tightening up this ordinance is needed in a timely fashion. Hopefully amendments will be presented to the Council in the near future.