The Versailles City Council voted unanimously on Tuesday night to pass a smoking ban that prohibits both smoking tobacco and the use of electronic vaping devices in public buildings and places of employment with only a pair of exemptions, private residences and private clubs that employ from within or whose only employees are member volunteers. Should a private club open its venue for a public event, it would be subject to the smoking ban. The Woodford Sun was the first to report news of the vote via its Facebook page. The ordinance provides for fines for both smoker and building owner or business operator; the former could be hit with a fine of up to $50, while the latter would get a first offense fine of $50 that escalates to $100 for a second offense and $250 for a third offense within a year from a previous violation. Businesses who violate the ordinance are also subject to being cited for creating a public nuisance, which gives the city additional options for abating the violations. The full text of the ordinance can be found here. Versailles is located 13 miles west of Lexington and is home to nearly 9,000 residents.
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