TYLER, Texas — Editor's Note: This video is from July 2022.
About sixty-five students have been charged with a felony for having a vape with THC oil inside while on a Tyler ISD campus so far during the 2022-23 academic year, according to the school district.
In August, Tyler ISD announced the installation of over 70 vape detectors at all four high schools and the Career & Technology Center. They also said additional detectors would be installed at middle school campuses in 2022-23 school year.
Possessing vaping products, e-cigarettes and tobacco products are illegal for those under 21. Students caught vaping on Tyler ISD grounds will receive a Class C misdemeanor citation and a fine of up to $100, the district said.
Students caught with a vape or e-cigarette will be sent to Discipline Alternative Education Program, also known as DAEP.
If the vaping device has any other substance like THC oil, the student will be arrested on felony charges, Tyler ISD said.
Numbers from the school district show two to three students are caught with a vape on Tyler ISD campuses weekly.
Danny Brown, Tyler ISD chief of police, said it's going to take more than the school district to solve this problem.
"It's not just a Tyler ISD thing. It's a state and probably a national issue thing," Brown said. "But, you know, we were worried about our kids, and we're trying to take care of our kids. We're relying on the city police department, and we've talked to the city and county about it and they're aware of it."
The city of Tyler passed an ordinance in 2019 that bans vaping in public areas and workplaces.