US: Church Street Smoking Ban Gets Final Approval in Vermont

Source from:  Burlington (VT) Free Press 11/12/2014

Burlington, Vt.- A 24 hour ban for smoking any tobacco products on Church Street has passed.

You can't smoke tobacco substitutes, including electronic cigarettes, or tobacco products outside of any marketplace store front from the top of Church Street to the bottom.

"We're going to be trying to enforce it by educating people," said supporter of the ordinance and City Councilor Karen Paul.

Burlington Police Department will enforce the ban, and Chief of Police Mike Schirling believes getting the word out is a priority.

"I think I see it a lot like, we have skateboarding and biking on the marketplace now, and unless it's repetitive, people aren't really getting tickets for it," Schirling said, There is a 50 to 100 dollar fine to anyone who violates the new ordinance.
There are doubts about the ban."I feel like there are some who believe it will be not good for business," Paul said.

Some restaurants wanted to be exempt from the ban, so their customers could smoke outside during a meal.

And some City Councilors who voted it down think forcing smokers to the side streets will concentrate second hand smoke.

While the ban has passed education will come before enforcement; the city wants to get the word out first with a media campaign.

There is the possibility of adding signs to Church Street, similar to the ones for skateboarding and biking, but that's up to the Marketplace Commission.

There's another ordinance in the works to ban smoking in all city owned parks, but that will go through committee before a final vote. Enditem