Germany enforces e‑cigarette rules: traffic fine for touchscreen use and tax raid seizes 160 units

The Oberlandesgericht (Higher Regional Court) in Cologne ruled that a touchscreen e‑cigarette is an electronic device under the road traffic regulations. A driver on the A59 near Cologne who adjusted the e‑cigarette’s settings while driving was fined €150 and received a point on his driving record. The court clarified that any electronic device with a touch screen, not just phones, is prohibited for use behind the wheel.

Customs officials in Bremen inspected flea‑market stalls on the Bürgerweide and uncovered more than 160 untaxed e‑cigarettes. The 21‑year‑old seller’s stock contained liquid volumes exceeding the legal two‑milliliter limit for disposable units. A tax evasion proceeding was opened, and the seller was issued a €1,000 tax assessment for the seized products. The seizure highlights stricter enforcement of tobacco‑tax laws on e‑cigarettes.