Abbeville Council votes in favor of Smoke-free Air Ordinance

After hearing from those on both sides of the discussion, the Abbeville City Council adopted an ordinance Tuesday that will limit smoking in certain areas of the city.
The council voted 5-0 during Tuesday’s regular meeting on the creation of a Smoke-free Air Ordinance. The measure is modeled after one authored by the Louisiana Municipal Association.
The ordinance will ban smoking in the city’s parks, government buildings and government vehicles. The move will also prohibit smoking in public buildings, which are any buildings that are open to the public.
Bars and bingo halls will be exempt from the ordinance.
The ordinance will also not affect citizens smoking in their personal vehicles or homes. Residences will only be affected if the home doubles as a childcare or health care facility.
The new ordinance will take effect on Jan. 1, 2015.