Torie
Hardee and Jaci Bryan, staff writers
posted
on April 20, 2006
The
Troy City Council passed an ordinance at last week’s meeting
that will ban smoking from all public places within the city of
Troy.
Restricted areas would include facilities such as restaurants, playgrounds,
pavilions and stadiums.
Establishments excluded in the ordinance are those such as bars,
which are in service primarily for alcohol sale and consumption.
Restaurant owners are given the option to provide a smoking section
as long as the smoking area complies with the guidelines stated
in the ordinance.
The ordinance will take effect upon publication, and those not willing
to comply will suffer penalties of $25-200 and court costs per offense.
Troy City Council member Johnny Witherington said the idea of the
ordinance was presented several months ago by Charles Meeks.
In February, under the program “Mayor For a Day,” Charles
Henderson Middle School students held a mock council meeting in
which they proposed an example of the smoking ordinance.
Witherington said this had a huge impact on the city council members’
decision to follow through with the smoking ordinance.
“It impressed us that they were concerned with health issues
such as these,” Witherington said.
Witherington explained that the other driving force in passing the
ordinance was the proven fact that smoking kills people.
“We were provided with statistical data that proves second
hand smoke causes cancer,” he said.
The ordinance states that the United States Surgeon General, the
American Cancer Society, the American Lung Association and the Alabama
Department of Public Health have concluded that involuntary smoking
is a cause of disease, including lung cancer in non-smokers.
Witherington said that the Troy City Council has been overwhelmed
with support for the ordinance.
“I have only had two communications by e-mail that have been
in opposition,” Witherington said.
Many Troy students, mainly non-smokers, also agree with the ordinance.
“Smoking is a personal choice, but if it’s in a public
place it interferes with other people’s choice to not to smoke
or be around it,” said Sarah Butler a sophomore nursing major
from Troy.
“Smoking invades people’s space, half walls in a restaurant
don’t really do anything,” Butler added.
“If I’m not a smoker I don’t want to have to inhale
your smoke,” said Adam Keel a senior English education major
from Beulah.
“Smoke carries even in a restaurant,” Keel said.
Smoking in public places can also affect people who have medical
conditions.
“Smoking affects people with medical conditions who didn’t
choose to have those problems,” said Amanda Rawls a junior
journalism major from Red Level.
“I have asthma and it gets worse being around smoke,”
Rawls added.
Some people don’t see how the city is going to enforce the
ordinance.
“I think its good, but I think it isn’t sensible or
realistic to be able to control, at least not in places like a park,”
said Leigh Morenus a sophomore nursing major from Ocala, Fla.
“I think its okay everywhere else, but I think at a park where
you are not close compacted is taking away someone’s rights,”
said Andrew Phillips a sophomore pre-engineering major from Birmingham.
“I don’t like it. I work at Yanni’s and we just
finished remodeling, now with the ordinance if we decide to allow
smoking we are going to have to remodel again,” said Amber
Fouts a sophomore graphic design major from Montgomery.
Even some smokers are in favor of it.
“I think it’s great even though I’m a smoker,”
said Jaela Robbins a senior human resources management major from
Opp.
“I have a six-month old that I don’t smoke around, and
I don’t want to have to take him out of a restaurant every
time someone lights up,” Robbins added.
“I’m not going to be behind it, but if it happens then
it’s not that big of a deal,” said David Lambert who
is also a human resource management major from Atmore.
“I don’t smoke in any of those places so as long as
they don’t ban people from smoking outside I’m ok,”
he added.
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