Is It Illegal to Vape and Drive in Michigan? Here’s What the Law Says

Is It Illegal to Vape and Drive in Michigan Here's What the Law Says

While Michigan law does not explicitly prohibit vaping while driving, there are several important considerations regarding this practice:

Distracted Driving Laws

As of 2025, Michigan has strict distracted driving laws in place. Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed a bill making it illegal to manually use a cell phone or other mobile electronic device while operating a vehicle.

While this law doesn’t specifically mention vaping devices, using one while driving could potentially be considered a form of distracted driving.

Marijuana and Driving

It’s important to note that Michigan has clear laws regarding marijuana use and driving:

  1. It is illegal to consume marijuana while operating a vehicle.
  2. Drivers are prohibited from operating a vehicle under the influence of marijuana.
  3. Michigan has a zero-tolerance policy for driving with any amount of marijuana in your system, although there are some exceptions for medical marijuana users.

Vaping-Specific Regulations

While there isn’t a specific law addressing vaping and driving, the following points are relevant:

  1. Michigan’s Clean Indoor Air Act has not been amended to prohibit vaping where smoking is banned.
  2. Some municipalities, such as East Lansing, Marquette County, and Washtenaw County, have ordinances that prohibit vaping in places where smoking is prohibited.
  3. The use of electronic smoking devices is prohibited in the Third Judicial Circuit Court.

Safety Considerations

Even if not explicitly illegal, vaping while driving could be considered dangerous for several reasons:

  1. It may cause visual obstruction due to vapor clouds.
  2. Handling a vaping device could lead to manual distraction.
  3. The act of vaping itself might divert a driver’s attention from the road.

Conclusion

While there is no specific law in Michigan that makes it illegal to vape and drive, doing so could potentially lead to charges under distracted driving laws or be considered reckless behavior.

Additionally, if the substance being vaped contains marijuana or other controlled substances, it would be illegal to use while driving. For safety reasons and to avoid potential legal issues, it’s advisable to refrain from vaping while operating a vehicle in Michigan.

Sources:

  1. https://www.michiganautolaw.com/blog/2023/05/24/marijuana-and-driving-laws/
  2. https://www.michigan.gov/msp/-/media/Project/Websites/msp/ohsp/1_March-2023/4200-Cannabis-and-Driving-brochure.pdf?rev=d691b3f17f184cea9444c10a5aa5a2de
  3. https://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/keep-mi-healthy/chronicdiseases/tobacco/e-cigarettes
  4. https://davidchristensenlaw.com/marijuana-and-driving-laws-what-you-need-to-know/
  5. https://kellykellylaw.com/blog/criminal-defense/michigan-vaping-laws/