“We know from recent incidents that e-cigarettes in checked bags can catch fire during transport”, Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said in statement announcing the new federal rule.
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The DOT said the rule was devised by two of its agencies, the Pipelines and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration and the Federal Aviation Administration, which issued issued an interim final rule following an advisory published earlier.
But there are relatively few similar incidents the department can use to back up its case, with only 26 such incidents recorded in the past six years. The move is to avert fire in flights.
In a report from The Associated Press, the new federal law will ban airline passengers from packing electronic cigarettes or other battery-operated electronic smoking devices in their checked baggage to prevent potential fires during flights.
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“Given the safety risks posed by e-cigarettes in checked baggage, PHMSA believes that public notice would frustrate the due and required execution of agency functions”, the agency said. “It is recommended that operators require their passengers to carry e-cigarettes and related devices exclusively in the cabin of the aircraft”. For example, the Transportation Security Administration allows travelers to transport licensed firearms in checked luggage, though not in carry-on bags. The ban is just the latest in a series of government measures tightening the regulatory environment for e-cigarette users.
