Recently, a new enforcement has been added to Bear River by Vice Principal Cathy Peterson and Deputy Tyler Droivold where you could be fined $250 for being caught vaping.
Vaping has been one of the biggest problems for Bear River for years, and Peterson and Droivold have been searching for ways to stop the problem.
Vaping is an issue that has rankled Peterson for some time.
“This isn’t okay with me, I have a hard time with it,” Peterson states. “Students should have the right to a clean bathroom where you can go, take care of things and get out.” It was such a problem, Peterson took a picture of the vapes she had confiscated over the years: enough to fill an inflatable swimming pool.
“Droivold emailed the California State Office and they said it was ridiculous and unacceptable,” she said.
Peterson even has a whole cabinet full of vapes which she has collected over the years.
“I have been frustrated for the last four years,” says Peterson. “I feel like I play catch and release. If you can’t buy or possess it as a juvenile, then it stands to reason you can’t have it on campus.”
After doing some research, they were both able to come up with the misdemeanor. It has been in place since spring break and Peterson has seen results already.
“I’ll tell you, the officer has written tickets on Monday, but on Tuesday not a single vape detector went off.” So far, the new fine enforcement has shown many positive thoughts from students all around campus.
“I think it is really smart and will keep people from vaping,” said sophomore Jayden McCluskey.
Another student, sophomore Vincent Dy said, “I would say it's awesome because it stops vaping for teenagers, makes school safer and bathrooms are open!”
“If you can’t pay it, just don’t vape,” said sophomore Molly Patrick. This new policy is already making Bear River a safer and cleaner place to be, and now students are able to use bathrooms again, just how it was before vaping became a trend.
