New Law Sparks Discussion Over Smoking Bans

Publication Date: 2005-08-14

• Author:--
• Publication:WTVO Channel 17 (Rockford, IL)

Rockford Illinois - Smoking or non? That`s the question asked at most restaurants, but that could change now that local municipalities have the green light to enact their own smoking bans.

Governor Blagojevich signed a bill Wednesday which gives Illinois communities the power to set their own smoking rules. Currently only 21 communities throughout the state have this authority.

Even though the law doesn`t go into effect until Jan. 1st, 2006, it`s already sparking a lot of discussion and action.

Members of the Tobacco Free Coalition are already working on ways to see smoking in restaurants and bars stopped indefinitely.