Pocono News Section

Governor Signs Pennsylvania Smoking Ban

Governor Signs Pennsylvania Smoking Ban - Friday, June 13, 2008 at 5:56PM EST

Reported by: Jeff Chirico
Friday, Jun 13, 2008 @ 05:56pm EST
AMBLER, MONTGOMERY COUNTY --Governor Ed Rendell signed the Clean Indoor Air Act at noon Friday. The crowd cheered after he made it official. Lawmakers by his side supported the bill that makes it illegal to smoke in most public places and work-sites.

Gov. Ed Rendell Pennsylvania

"This is legislation is a long time in coming but got a boost from a surgeon general's report in 2006 that made it clear once and for all that second hand smoke has disastrous consequences for nonsmokers."

Here are the locations you won't be able to smoke. Restaurants, bars that serves a certain amount of food, hospitals, schools, stores, theaters, offices, sports complexes, buses, taxis, trains, their stations.

Here are some exemptions to the smoking ban. Bars and taverns which sell a minimum amount of food can allow smoking. So can private clubs like sportsmen's groups and American Legions. Tobacco shops, cigar bars, volunteer fire, ambulance and rescue squads can allow it. Parts of casino floors can permit smoking. A quarter of hotel rooms can remain smoking. It's also allowed in nursing homes where elderly folks who've smoked all their lives may be too frail to go outside.

The penalty for those who break the law $250 for a first offense and up to a $1,000 for a third. Bar owners or restaurateurs face the same fines. It all begins September 11.