On Tuesday, the Dearborn City Council unanimously approved a smoking ban for city parks, but it’s not a complete snuff-out of tobacco use. In the city’s seven mini-parks where there is play equipment for children, smoking has been completely banned. In other parks, smoking is banned within 15 feet of the outermost edge of any play structure in a community park, according to a press release issued by the city. The new ban was heralded as “a good introduction to a smoking ban” by City Councilman Bob Abraham, who wanted a complete ban on smoking in city parks. The city’s hope is that these new restrictions will provide benchmarks and points to study the effect of the ban so that it might be adjusted to better suit the city’s needs in the future. Those who disobey the new law will face a $50 fine plus administrative costs or community service if caught by city police, who will be enforcing the ban. Dearborn is home to nearly 100,000 residents and is located on the edges of downtown Detroit.
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