No-Smoking Law Studied for Lakewood

At the urging of a blue-ribbon panel, city officials are considering a wide-ranging smoking regulation that would require one of three signs to be posted at the entrances of all businesses and public facilities, city officials said.

Although a full study has not been completed, city spokesman Donald Waldie said that staff members recommended the law after a survey of 1,700 business owners showed a strong acceptance of some type of smoking limit. A public hearing will be scheduled after the release of the report, expected this week, Waldie said.

If the new law is passed, all buildings frequented by the public will be required to post signs that say either, “Smoking prohibited throughout the building,” “Smoking allowed in designated areas only” or “Smoking allowed on the premises.”

“We feel it gives people the chance to decide that they don’t want to go into a place where there is smoke,” Waldie said. “They can choose to not patronize the store.”

The committee studying the proposed ordinance was formed after residents expressed concern about the regulation. About 78% of respondents to the survey, mailed in April, favor mandatory no-smoking areas in retail shops, Waldie said, and nearly 62% said they would like a no-smoking area in the workplace, he added.

Additionally, 72% of respondents surveyed said they prefer no-smoking sections in restaurants and 53% were in favor of a smoking ban in all municipal buildings. Twenty-six percent of the respondents said they were smokers, Waldie said.