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29-Jul-08 3:00 PM CST

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Public Smoking in Nacogdoches Ends Tuesday

Public smoking in Nacogdoches ends Tuesday

By MATTHEW STOFF
The Daily Sentinel
Sunday, June 29, 2008

Effective Tuesday, July 1, smoking in all of Nacogdoches' public buildings, workplaces, offices, bars and restaurants will be prohibited, punishable by a fine up to $2,000 in municipal court. With the new law in place, Nacogdoches joins other East Texas communities like Marshall and Tyler and at least 20 states that have banned public smoking in the name of health.

Private homes, fraternal organizations, tobacco retail stores and a percentage of hotel and nursing home rooms are excepted from the law, but all other businesses, including their outdoor patios and areas 20 feet from public entrances, must comply with the ordinance.

Nacogdoches joins other East Texas communities like Marshall and Tyler and at least 20 states that have banned public smoking in the name of health.

For more than two months, city staff has been working with business owners to iron out details of enforcing the new law aimed at protecting workers and patrons at nearly all establishments in the city. Individual businesses will be primarily responsible for posting "no smoking" signs at their entrances and for ensuring their employees and patrons do not smoke on the premise.

Both Nacogdoches police and the city code enforcement office will address violations of the ordinance.

"We believe the ordinance has received wide approval from the community and are expecting few, if any, problems," Police Chief Jim Sevey said last week. "We will of course assist any business owner who requests assistance."

The ordinance prohibiting public smoking passed in April after city commissioners heard input from citizens. Many spoke in favor of the ordinance, citing medical studies that document the carcinogenic effects of second-hand smoke as well as anecdotes about the unpleasantness of dining in smoking establishments. Few opposed the ban entirely, though some business owners sought relief from the requirements that will have patrons standing at least 20 feet away from the building to light up.

The Healthy Nacogdoches Coalition, a group of local businesses, health organizations and others concerned about public wellness, conducted much of the initial research for the ordinance as part of its goal of becoming a recognized heart and stroke healthy community, a designation bestowed by the state department of health.

Citizens wishing to report violations of the ordinance may contact the city inspections department at 559-2558 or the police department's non-emergency line at 559-2607. Questions may be directed to the inspections department.

Matthew Stoff's e-mail address

is mstoff@coxnews.com.

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