Jul 12, 2009 3:25 pm US/Pacific
Richmond Bans Smoking In Apartments, Condos
RICHMOND (BCN) ―
City officials in Richmond are snuffing out smoking in apartments, condominiums and public places, making it the hardest place in the San Francisco Bay area to smoke.
The City Council approved an ordinance this month that will ban lighting up in all multiunit housing by Jan. 1, 2011. Officials say smoking in multiunit housing exposes people to secondhand smoke, which can travel between apartments.
The city has already banned smoking in parks, farmers markets and other public places. Fines start at $100 for violating the bans.
Richmond was given an "F" by the American Lung Association in January, which got city leaders to move quickly to enact tougher restrictions to discourage smoking and reduce secondhand smoke.
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