The south Texas city of Edinburg has passed a new smoking ban, putting an end to lighting up in workplaces, public places, outdoor areas and city-owned facilities. The ban was passed at the city council’s meeting on Tuesday, and while it goes into effect immediately, the city has announced a grace period of an undetermined length of time to help get the word out, according to KRGV-TV. Once that ban expires, fines for violating the ban will start at $200 and escalate to $2,000 for repeat violations. Edinburg is the county seat and largest city in Hidalgo County, located about 18 miles north of the Mexico border and just north of McAllen. It has a population of just over 81,000 residents.
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