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Mall’s Extinguishing Feature: Smoke won’t get in your eyes at MainPlace/Santa Ana.

Spurred by increased concern over secondhand smoke, the mall has speeded up a plan to eliminate smoking this year. MainPlace had eliminated smoking in its food court by mid-1991, and had planned to eliminate smoking in remaining common areas in the near future.

But as of Monday, smoking was prohibited everywhere in the mall. Ashtrays were taken out of the mall’s common areas and the universal signs for “no smoking” have been installed. In January, South Coast Plaza eliminated smoking in its common areas but continues to allow smoking in restaurants with designated areas.

MainPlace/Santa Ana security guards aren’t taking scofflaws into custody. Instead, they’ve adopted a kinder and gentler tactic: handing out sticks of gum to those who light up. Guards are also advising shoppers that they “are invited to smoke outside the building,” said MainPlace Manager Tanya Thomas.

On Monday, the first day of the ban, about a dozen smokers were apprehended by security guards.