The small city of Saluda, N.C., home to approximately 700 residents and located in the southwest corner of the state, just over 90 miles west of Charlotte, passed a smoking ban this week, as the Board of Commissioners voted to prohibit smoking and e-cigarettes in city-owned buildings, vehicles and parks in Saluda. The ordinance started to gain traction in mid-April as the board worked to figure out just what areas should be included in the ban. One of the main sticking points was the town’s pavilion, a popular spot for events and private rentals that some feared would lose business if it became a place where smoking wasn’t allowed. The final version of the bill included the pavilion, as well as the surrounding McCreery Park and downtown’s Spring Park, according to The Tryon Daily Bulletin. While the ordinance directs enforcement officials to ask violators to put out any product in violation of the law before fining them, it does provide for up to a $50 fine should the individual fail to comply. City employees who violate the new law could also face disciplinary action as provided for within the city’s human resource policy. The ordinance went into effect on May 12.
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