Jackson passes smoking ban ordinance - MSNewsNow.com - Jackson, MS

Jackson passes smoking ban ordinance

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By David Kenney - bio | email

By David Kenney - bio | email

Jackson, MS (WLBT) - The city of Jackson will be smoke free in one month. Tuesday morning the Jackson City Council passed a historic smoking ban.

The new ordinance bans smoking within 20 feet of any public place. The old ordinance banned smoking in restaurants. This new one would also ban smoking in stand alone bars.

Some bar owners were present at Tuesday's meeting, speaking out against the ordinance. They say it could effect their businesses if their customers aren't allowed to light up. They requested a permit system be established just for bars, but that didn't make it into the ordinance.

"We tried it a different way; we didn't have a level playing field. There were people obeying the ordinance; there were some that were not. It was just not fair to those who were supporting the ordinance so we've come back again and did a smoking ban in all public places in Jackson," said Ward 4 Councilwoman Margaret Barrett-Simon.

Fines for violators are steep.  Five hundred dollars for the first violation and $1,000 for every one there after.

The ordinance will be enforced by code services and the Jackson Fire Department.

©2010 WLBT. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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