Highland Heights' ban on smoking in public spaces to begin in September
Highland Heights will begin enforcing a ban on smoking in public spaces and places of employment next month, public health officials say.
The city and Northern Kentucky Health Department have already begun sending business owners packets with information on what they should do to stay in compliance with the new law, which is set to go into effect Sept. 18, officials said in a news release Friday.
Smoking will be prohibited in city buildings and places of employment where the public is "invited or permitted," officials said. Those places include offices, hotels, factories, churches, bars, restaurants, bingo halls, bowling alleys and stores.
It also applies to certain outdoor areas including arenas, stadiums, amphitheaters, playgrounds, sports fields and public transportation stations.
Smoking in Northern Kentucky: Why experts feel Kentucky is turning the dial on smoking bans
While Kentucky remains one of just 12 states that hasn't imposed a statewide smoking ban indoors, dozens of cities have taken measures into their own hands in the interest of public health and have passed legislation locally.
Highland Heights is the third city in Campbell County to pass such a law, following Dayton in 2022 and Bellevue earlier this year. The smoke-free ordinance was approved by city council in a 3-2 vote in June.
The work to pass smoking bans has been spearheaded by the Breathe Easy NKY campaign. Advocates of Breathe Easy have cited public health data on the impacts of secondhand smoke in pushing for smoking bans.
Critics of smoking bans in Northern Kentucky meanwhile have argued the decision should be up to individual states.
The Northern Kentucky Health Department will assist the city with enforcement of the smoking ban, though police may also issue citations for noncompliance.
Businesses are required to deny service to any customers who refuse to stop smoking and ask them to leave the premises, the ordinance states. Anyone caught smoking in a smoke-free area can be slapped with a fine of up to $50.
Business owners who fail to comply with the ban will receive a warning for a first violation. A second violation within a year is punishable by a fine of of up to $100, with a fine of $250 for each subsequent violation within a one-year period.
Fines will go toward reimbursing the health department for enforcement services, according to the ordinance.
The city may also revoke any licenses or permits issued to a business owner for the property where the violation occurred.
“We are very pleased that the Highland Heights City Council responded to the need of our community to take positive steps for health,” Karen Finan, CEO and president of OneNKY Alliance, said in a statement.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Ban on smoking in public places soon to begin in Highland Heights
