In Barbour County, West Virginia it will soon be harder to enjoy a legal product. Beginning on October 1, 2014 Barbour County will be come the 28th county to enact a smoking policy that will make it illegal to smoke in places of work, public parks and 20 feet from building entrances. Barbour Country is home to 16,000 residents over 343 square miles and was chartered in 1844.
The Whiteside County Health Department in conjunction with the American Lung Association have been working to make all of the parks in Sauk Valley smoke-free. The director of public health, Marcia Widolff has already instated restrictions in both the Oregon and Sterling park districts and she has sent her sights on Freeport and Dixon. The Smoke Free Illinois Act passed in 2008 mandated that public places and places of employment must be completely smoke-free inside […]
Starting on November 1st, 2014 it will be illegal to light up on grounds owned by Redwood County in the state of Minnesota. However, Plum Creek Park will not be subjected to the new law due to its size and this inability to properly enforce the new ruling. In addition all foster care homes and daycare facilities licensed by the county are now required to be smoke free as well. According to Carol Biren, director […]
Earlier this year the city of Ann Arbor, Michigan banned smoking near building entrances and bus stops. The ban included an option for the City Administrator to designate any city park, or portion of as smoke free. On Tuesday a formal recommendation was received to ban smoking at 77 parks. It is now up to Commissioner Powers to decide if that request should be implemented. The current fine for violation of the existing ordinance is $25 […]
Someone might want to alert Pacey and the gang over at Dawsons Creek that smoking will no longer allowed in parks.The ban which was presented by Northern Health and the Canadian Cancer Society will also make it illegal to smoke within 7.5 meters of doors, windows or air intakes. The current provincial law is set to 3 meters. The Chief administrator of Dawson Creek Jim Chute said, “You’ll have widespread acceptance of these bylaws around children. […]
The number of communities in the state of Massachusetts to raise the legal age of purchasing tobacco has grown again. The Belmont Board of Health has voted unanimously to adopt new regulations which raises the smoking age to 21. The town will also ban the sale of flavored tobacco products and have mandated that single cigars cost at least $2.50 There are currently 29 cities and towns in the stat that have increased the age to […]
The town board of Huntington unanimously passed a law 5-0, that will prohibit smoking at its eight town beaches. According to town board member Mark Cuthbertson who was the sponsor to take away the freedom of smokers, “I am pleased that we have passed a common-sense measure to limit exposure to secondhand smoke at our wonderful beaches.” Evidently Mr. Cuthbertson is not aware of reports that have discredited second-hand smoke like the one that appeared […]
The amount you will have to pay for illegally selling an FDA-regulated tobacco products just went up 10%. The 6th fine in a 48 month period will cost you $11,000 which its an extra $1000. According to the FDA FAQ, “Civil Money Penalties for Tobacco Retailers – Answers to Frequently Asked Questions,” (revised June 2014), the maximum civil money penalty for six or more violations within a 48-month period was increased “to reflect inflation, as […]
The leaders of Cumberland Country are looking into expanding the existing smoking ban, and if it passes it could affect more places where the freedom to light up a cigar is permissible. The county which recently passed a policy prohibiting smoking outside anywhere on the grounds of county buildings. The commission is looking to expand that to include bus stops, outdoor restaurant seating and common areas at apartment complexes. According resident Don Kalb, “I think […]
On Monday September 15th, 2014 the city of Manitowoc, Wisconsin approved a motion that will require state works to pay an additional $100 per month towards their health insurance premiums. Currently the majority of city workers pay 12.5 percent f their health insurance premiums which is approximately $70 a month and $175 per month for family coverage. The city will now require all employees to take a nicotine test this fall and those who fail […]