Madison County is trying to crack down on smoking by expanding restrictions on where people can light up.
Currently the county restricts smoking on county owned property. For instance, signs on doors to government buildings in Wampsville tell smokers to stay 20 feet away from the entrance. Now, lawmakers are proposing an outright ban.
The Madison County Board of Supervisors is considering a law under which people would be barred, from smoking on all property, owned or leased by Madison County. It would include government buildings, parks and even the landfill. People driving onto county owned property would be allowed to smoke, but only inside their cars. Madison County Public Health Director Eric Faisst says, "There would be no smoking on county property period. There wouldn't be a distance... they would have to leave the county property to smoke."
Faisst says enforcement of the ban would be "complaint driven." Anyone caught violating the proposed smoking ban, faces a fine, of up to $1000.
Madison County lawmakers, will hold a public hearing next month. They'll consider enacting the new law in August.
