After King County banned smoking at transit centers, the city of Renton, Wash. noticed a significant uptick in smoking and related litter in the downtown parks near those transit centers. To combat it, the city council is making it illegal to smoke in downtown parks and facilities as of August 13. The new anti-smoking ordinance was passed by the council on July 13 and affects two parks, a former retail lot and the north side of the Renton Pavilion Event Center, all due to their proximity to the city’s commercial center, schools and businesses. Once in effect, violators will be subject to a fine of $250, with the Renton Police Department charged with enforcement. The vote was reported by the Renton Reporter. Renton is located just over 10 miles southwest of Seattle and is home to 98,470 residents.
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