On Monday night, the Albany Common Council voted to create tobacco-free areas in city parks, with a $50 fine for anyone who violates the law. The ordinance passed the 16-member council unanimously, with one councilman abstaining from casting a vote. Signage will begin to be installed in city parks indicating the areas where smoking is not allowed, and the council hopes for community policing to handle most of the enforcement, though ultimately Albany police will handle enforcement, according to News10.com. The law will go into effect upon receiving the signature of Mayor Kathy Sheehan. Albany is the capitol of New York and home to approximately 100,000 residents.
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