After a one-month public education campaign, the city of Manhattan Beach, Calif. will begin enforcing the outdoor smoking ban passed by the city council on June 17 and which went into effect on July 18. In the month since the ban went into effect, the city has been running a program called “Breathe Free MB,” which has included informational outreaches to residents and businesses. The new smoking ban covers all public areas, including the beach, city parks and restaurants. To look at it another way, smoking is banned in all places except private residential property, moving vehicles, and in up to 20% of the rooms of a local hotel or motel. With enforcement now underway, violators of the ban would be subject to being cited for an infraction, which is punishable by a fine up to $100 for the first offense, up to $200 for the second offense and up to $500 for third and subsequent offenses. Manhattan Beach is located in southwestern Los Angeles county and has approximately 35,000 residents.
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