Huntington Beach : Smoking-Regulation Law Given First OK

A ban on smoking in theaters, restrooms, meeting rooms, hospitals and other public areas has won preliminary approval from the City Council.

With Councilman John Thomas absent, the council voted unanimously for a law that is patterned after ordinances in other Orange County cities, including Brea, Irvine and Laguna Beach.

The ordinance will come up for final approval Feb. 18 and will take effect 30 days later if passed.

Violations would be punishable by $50 fines for the first offense, $100 for the second and third and $250 for every violation thereafter.

“Based on information from other cities with similar ordinances, it is expected that there will be little or no cost to enforce such an ordinance since once in effect, most concerned have voluntarily complied,” a staff report said.