Jacobs: Smoking Ban a 'Step in the Right Direction'

Restaurant patrons and others will now be more protected from the effects of second-hand smoke thanks to an ordinance passed unanimously by the Nassau County Legislature with support from Legislator Judy Jacobs.

The smoking ordinance will require restaurants with 50 or more seats, excluding bar stools, to have a separate smoking room or to ban smoking entirely. Establishments with less than 50 seats will not have to create a separate smoking room but will have to set aside three-quarters of the seating area for nonsmokers.

"I feel the smoking legislation is an important step forward toward the goal of a completely smoke-free environment for public places in Nassau County," said Legislator Jacobs.

The new bill, which was sponsored by Legislator Vincent Muscarella (R-West Hempstead) allows smoking in bowling alleys after 6 p.m. Smoking is also permitted in locations which have an air filtration system. But smoking is banned in health care facilities, banks, public businesses and movie theaters.

The bill allows the health commissioner to grant 24 month waivers for some restaurants that need time to complete renovations to comply with the law.

According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, tobacco smoke is a carcinogen responsible for 3,000 lung cancer deaths each year in non-smoking adults.