Tyler ISD renews anti-vaping initiative

TYLER — A dozen students in Tyler ISD could be facing felony charges in relation to e-cigarettes. TISD’s Police Chief Danny Brown told KTBB Tuesday they are renewing an anti-vaping initiative. “First of all these devices are illegal for someone under 21, just the device itself. On the criminal side, just possession could be a class C misdemeanor, a fine of up to $100. The Judge at City Court determines that.” Chief Brown continued, “In addition to that is school consequences. It is a violation of student conduct to possess these devices on campus as well. The student may face time in the alternative school, and may face a fine or possibly a felony charge.”

If that vaping device has any other substance in it such as THC oil, the student would be arrested with felony charges. Currently there are 12 students throughout the district awaiting results of whether THC was found in the vaping devices.

Chief Brown went on to say, “We have about 18,500 kids at TISD. And since September we have had 12 of these cases, which is a very small percentage of our total population. But, if they catch a felony case in Juvenile…Besides the expense of hiring an attorney, and going through that process, a felony could possibly follow them trying to go to college, trying to have a job…Having a felony on a juveniles record can be so disastrous to their future and we are trying to prevent that.”

The idea that a student could leave high school with a felony on their record concerns Tyler ISD Superintendent Dr. Marty Crawford. “We care deeply about the success of our students,” Crawford said. “Our anti-vaping initiative aims to educate students not only on the health risks but also that vaping could lead to a felony on their record. Felonies will affect the rest of their life, like getting accepted into college or earning scholarships. It can even affect them financially for years to come.” The initiative also includes campus posters as well as a #TylerISDNoVaping social media campaign. Read more here.