N.J. indoor smoking ban advances...Cigar bars, tobacco retailers and casino floors would be exempt.

TRENTON, N.J. -- Lighting up would become illegal in restaurants, bars, malls, bowling alleys and other indoor public accommodations throughout the state, under a proposal approved Thursday by the state Senate.

The Smoke Free Air Act was approved, 29-7. The bill still must pass in the Assembly before the current legislative session ends on Jan. 9 and be signed by the governor to become law. The measure remains in the Assembly's Health and Human Services Committee, where it could be considered when that body reconvenes after the New Year.

Cigar bars, tobacco retailers and casino floors would be exempt from the ban.

Violators would face fines of $250 to $1,000.

"This is an unqualified success," said Tom Duffy, executive vice president of the American Cancer Society's Eastern Division.

Advocates say the bill was prompted by a desire to protect workers and patrons from the dangerous effects of secondhand smoke, which has been shown to contribute to a host of ills from cancer and heart disease to respiratory ailments.

"With all the facts we know today, we need to do whatever we can to protect our workers and patrons from being exposed to the dangers of secondhand smoke," said acting Gov. Richard J. Codey, who was among those who pushed for the bill as a senator and is expected to sign it if it reaches the governor's desk.

Antismoking groups lobbied hard for the legislation, arguing that it was lawmakers' public health responsibility to pass it.

"We think there is every reason to do this now," said Dr. George T. DiFerdinando, chairman of New Jersey Breathes. "The people of New Jersey want it, the workers of New Jersey deserve it and when this ban occurs, revenue in restaurants and bars will go up. That's what's been shown in New York City.

That city enacted a similar ban three years ago, and Chicago enacted one last week, but gave taverns and bars located inside restaurants until the middle of 2008 to comply.

Several other states also have indoor smoking bans. They include California, Delaware, Florida, Massachusetts, Montana and Oklahoma.

Restaurant and tavern owners groups asked lawmakers to consider the adverse impact they said a smoking ban would have on their businesses. Cathy Burke, who owns the Irish Pub in Atlantic City, said a law that banned smoking at her business but allowed it at neighboring casinos would put her out of business.

Some lawmakers said they also were troubled by the provision excluding casino gaming floors from the ban.

Sen. Ronald Rice, D-Newark, called the exemption "political," and said he would not support the bill because of it.

Other lawmakers, such as Sen. Loretta Weinberg, D-Bergen, said the political reality was that the measure wouldn't pass without the exemption. The compromise made the measure more palatable to lawmakers who represent South Jersey.

http://www.nynewsday.com/news/local/wire/newjersey/ny-bc-nj--smokingban1215dec15,0,7800082.story?coll=ny-region-apnewjersey


Gaming Topics: Slots, Gambling, Tips & Tricks
Topic Tag: Gambling, Casinos