On Friday, the Rhode Island capital of Providence approved an ordinance that will ban smoking in parks beginning on March 11th. The announcement was made by Mayor Angel Taveras who says the ordinance is part of the city’s ongoing effort to reduce underage smoking and secondhand smoke.
This comes despite studies that question the validity of second-hand smoke as reported by Forbes magazine.
The ordinance which was introduced in July by City Council President Michael A. Solomon and Majority Leader Seth Yurdin establishes a $50 fine for violators.
Providence is home to 178,000 residents over 20.5 square miles and was founded in 1636.
