New San Ramon Smoking Restrictions Start Thursday

The smoking restirction ordiance the San Ramon City Council passed last month will go into effect Thursday.

The ordinance states the purpose is to "protect those who live, work and play in San Ramon from the risks of secondhand smoke.

Smoking will now be banned throughout the city, not including the following exceptions:

1. Smoking inside a single family dwelling unit which is not licensed as a family day care facility and in the yard of such unit so long as any outside smoking is not within 25’ from any entrance, exit, operable window or air intake of a neighboring single family dwelling unit.
2. Smoking inside a multi-family housing unit and in an unenclosed area designated for smoking by the owner or person/entity in control of the property but not on patios or balconies accessed from an individual unit or in common areas open to public access or to unrestricted common areas such as hallways.  The unenclosed designated smoking area must be at least 25’ from any individual unit and at least 25’ from unenclosed areas used by children or for physical activity such as swimming or tennis.  It must have a clearly marked perimeter and be identified by conspicuous signs.
3. Smoking inside a personal vehicle not used for hire such as a taxi but only when there are no minors in the vehicle.
4. Smoking on public sidewalks at locations not adjacent to a public or private park or school and not within 25’ from any entrance, exit, operable window or air intake opening of any building used for residential or commercial purposes.
5. Smoking in privately owned unenclosed parking lots open to the public but not within 50’ of any commercial building served by the parking lot or within 25’ of buildings on adjacent properties.
6. Smoking in workplace designated smoking areas but only to the extent preempted by and allowed under State law (California Labor Code section 6404.5).
7. Smoking in privately owned enclosed facilities at private social events not open to the public such as wedding receptions but only to the extent allowed by the owner or person/entity in control of the property or facility and only in designated smoking areas conforming to the standards set forth in section 6404.5 of the California Labor Code.
8. Smoking in designated rooms rented to guests in hotels and motels so long as the number of such rooms does not exceed 25% of the total rooms in the hotel or motel.
9. Smoking on any outdoor area of golf courses but not within 25’ from any entrance, exit, operable window or air intake opening of the clubhouse or other building utilized by golfers, visitors or guests of the golf course.
10. An Owner or person/entity in control of a property or facility for which an exemption is available under this section nonetheless may prohibit smoking on the property or in the facility for any reason.

In January, before the ordinance was passed, San Ramon received a "D" grade in the American Lung Association's annual "State of Tobacco Control 2013" report.

What are your feelings about the smoking ban in San Ramon? Do you think the ban goes too far or not far enough? Tell us in the comments section.