Tighter ban on smoking delayed: Greenwood officials say proposal was too hard to enforce
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Greenwood doesn’t want a proposed expansion of its smoking ban to be too difficult to enforce.
City council members plan to extend Greenwood’s ban to city-owned parks and property, but they don’t want to forbid smoking while walking on city streets, trails or sidewalks. They mainly don’t want to impose a new rule that police could never fully enforce.
The council decided, 6-3, Monday to postpone the proposed additions to the smoking ban so that revisions can be made.
Council members Bruce Armstrong, Mike Campbell, Brent Corey, Ezra Hill, Thom Hord and Tim McLaughlin voted to delay the proposal until the next meeting in October so the city attorney can have time to make clear that the ban doesn’t apply to streets and sidewalks.
Linda Gibson, J. David Hopper and Ron Bates voted against further delay.
A proposed ban in city parks won’t take effect until after the council gives final approval.
Two weeks ago, the council gave unanimous preliminary approval to the tougher ban. Council members said the tighter restrictions would protect children, encourage residents not to smoke and make them healthier.
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