Norwalk police report compliance gaps, infractions under new vape ordinance

Norwalk — Police provided the committee with an enforcement update Nov. 18 on the vape ordinance enacted Sept. 1, reporting registration shortfalls and enforcement actions and urging a clearer failure‑to‑register violation in the ordinance.

Police Chief Walsh told the committee “we have 48 shops that technically need to fall under this new ordinance,” and said “as of last week, we only had 12 that were validly registered.” He reported officers have issued enforcement infractions for noncompliance; in the chief’s words, “I think last time I checked with Sergeant Geismar, there was 13 infractions given out.” The chief also summarized that the department had recorded “about 15 or 16 violations” in the first enforcement steps, including sales‑related violations and other registration/suitability issues.

Chief Walsh recommended adding specific, tiered language to address failure to register, arguing the ordinance was “a little bit silent” on that point. He described the enforcement progression the department expects to use — fines/infractions, a six‑month suspension for repeat noncompliance and, on a third violation within a year, closure — and flagged operational questions such as where seized product and high‑power batteries would be stored after seizures.

Committee members encouraged the police to continue enforcement and suggested the next Common Council review the ordinance language after an initial implementation period; one councilmember suggested waiting six to eight months to see how compliance evolves before drafting stronger penalties.

The committee did not adopt ordinance language at the Nov. 18 meeting; members asked staff and public safety to return with recommended text and operational plans for handling seizures and closures.