Operating an e-cigarette with a touchscreen while driving is prohibited, according to a court ruling. A driver from Cologne has been fined €150, the Higher Regional Court (Oberlandesgericht) in the North Rhine-Westphalian city announced on Wednesday. E-cigarettes with touchscreens are now considered, like mobile phones, as electronic devices whose use is banned while driving. The ruling is final.
In 2024, the 46-year-old driver had adjusted the vapor strength of his e-cigarette via its touchscreen while driving on the autobahn. Legally, the Higher Regional Court considers a touchscreen-equipped e-cigarette a “touch display” that provides information, such as vapor strength settings.
The court noted that operating such an e-cigarette creates “a significant potential for distraction for the vehicle operator.” Consequently, adjusting the vapor strength via the touchscreen while driving is prohibited.
The fine was initially issued by the Siegburg District Court. The driver filed an appeal, prompting the Higher Regional Court to review the case. In addition to the fine, the driver may also receive a point on his record in Flensburg’s traffic violation database.
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