Following outcry, city official relaxes ban on smoking, chewing in Seattle parks
By APThursday, February 18, 2010
After outcry, Seattle parks smoking ban is relaxed
SEATTLE — Seattle’s parks superintendent has relaxed a ban on smoking in city parks just a day after he announced it would take effect April 1.
The revised rule that Superintendent Timothy Gallagher announced late Thursday prohibits “smoking, chewing or other tobacco use” within 25 feet of other park patrons.
On Wednesday, Gallagher announced a ban on tobacco use anywhere in city parks as a health measure to protect people from secondhand smoke.
He backtracked in a statement Thursday, saying he’s decided that a gradual approach to a smoking ban is reasonable, “based on the input from the public” that followed his initial decision.
A 25-foot rule is what the Board of Park Commissioners had recommended.
Tags: Geography, Government Regulations, North America, Seattle, Smoking Bans, Smoking Laws And Regulations, United States, Washington