Mayor Signs Smoking Ordinance

Mayor Tom Bradley today signed into law an ordinance requiring restaurants to set aside at least half their tables for nonsmokers and banning smoking in shops and department stores.

The ordinance, which will go into effect in early January, also bans smoking in service lines at businesses such as banks, exhibition areas of enclosed sports arenas, in museums, art galleries, and in most areas of private schools and day-care centers. Smoking in the banned areas will carry a $50 fine for the first offense, $100 for the second and $250 for the third and subsequent offenses.