On Monday night the mayor and city council of Mission, Texas voted unanimously to pass a sweeping overhaul of the city’s existing smoking ban, making it tougher for someone to light up. The new ban effectively repeals the existing ban that provided for separate smoking areas. Now, smokers will have to be at least 20 feet away from doors, windows and ventilation systems of enclosed areas before they are allowed to smoke legally. That distance also applies to stadiums, sports facilities and amphitheaters. If a smoker doesn’t comply, they will be subject to fines starting at $200 for a first offense and escalating to $500 for a second offense and $2,000 for a third. However, smokers will still be allowed to light up in retail tobacco store, in designated smoking areas on a restaurant’s outdoor patio, as well as in a portion of hotel and motel rooms as well as private residences. The new ban goes into effect in 90 days, according to The Monitor. The city has not yet posted the ban on its website. Mission is located at the southern tip of Texas, adjacent to McAllen and the Mexican border. It is home to just over 80,000 residents.
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