Smoking Ban Rules to be implemented beginning May 3rd

Last week, the Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review (JCARR), approved the rules designed to implement Ohio's statewide smoking ban. The ban is scheduled to take effect on May 3. The Academy of Medicine of Cleveland & Northern Ohio (AMCNO) has been integrally involved in the Smoke Free Ohio campaign and an active member of the Cuyahoga County Tobacco Coalition – a group that worked diligently to pass the anti-smoking measure in Ohio. The Cuyahoga County Board of Health (CCBH) will be the entity responsible for enforcing the rules in the Northern Ohio area. The CCBH will be providing information to the public regarding enforcement in the coming months – for more information go to www.ccbh.net 

Penalties for violating Ohio's new smoking ban First violation in 2 years: warning letter; second violation: $100; third violation: $500; fourth violation: $1,000; and fifth and subsequent violations: $2,500.

Exceptions to the smoking ban Private clubs, including veterans' halls and others where employees are members; patios; private residences; family-owned businesses that are not accessible to the public; retail tobacco stores; parts of nursing homes; and designated areas of hotels.