Vape Detectors Now Being Installed In Minnesota Hotels

Obviously you should never smoke a cigarette in a non-smoking room, but it's relatively common for people to vape in them. What's the harm, right? It's just a vapor that doesn't linger and doesn't leave the stained smoke odor that combustible cigarettes do. But, hotels are making money off cleaning services now for people who vape in hotel rooms.

"A Cleaning Fee Will Be Charged"

When I recently checked into a casino hotel room, I noticed a sign on top of the dresser next to the TV. It said this hotel uses advanced electronics to detect nicotine, tobacco, vapes, and marijuana vapors. Really? It said a $350 cleaning fee would be charged if the detector went off.

Read More: Some Breakfast Places Charging Surcharge Per Egg

At first, I called BS. I've never heard of this before, and I didn't even know these devices existed. I was curious so I did a search online and found a thread on Reddit from hotel employees who described how they work.

Yes, many hotels are now installing them, especially with the legalization of recreational marijuana in Minnesota! More and more people are vaping and hotels and motels are enforcing the fees.

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Where do they put them?

In the thread, I read that a common place for the vape detectors to be installed is behind the dresser, near the TV. I pulled the dresser away from the wall just a few inches and that's when I saw it. A small box that was attached to the back of the dresser was plugged into the same outlet as the TV. I'm glad I didn't vape in my room!

The detectors don't make a noise.

Most detectors don't make a noise when they detect a vape. It's not like a smoke alarm, but they will notify the hotel that smoke or vapor was detected in the room. Some employees even say they are timestamped so they can prove it was you, and not a previous guest.

Can't I just unplug it?

The first thought many people have is to unplug it. However, depending on the business, they could be notified you tampered with it. The best bet is to just not break the rules, even if it seems trivial.