Bourbon Town in the US passes anti-smoking ordinance, fines to apply for smoking in parks

  The Bourbon Town Council in Indiana, USA, has passed on first reading an ordinance aimed at banning all forms of smoking in all public parks within the town. The ordinance also sets fines for violators.

According to a breaking report by AM1050 News on the evening of December 12, the Bourbon Town Council in Indiana, USA, passed on first reading an ordinance aimed at prohibiting all forms of smoking in all public parks within the town, with fines imposed on those who violate the rule.

The Marshall County tobacco education coordinator asked the Bourbon Town Council to consider updating its smoking policy to make it more comprehensive and to include e-cigarettes. She told the council that the Town of Culver has already banned smoking in its parks, and that the Plymouth Park Board and the Marshall County Parks Department have also implemented smoke-free policies.

The Bourbon Town Council decided to draft an ordinance with fines to penalize those who violate it. They hope to reduce children’s and families’ exposure to secondhand smoke and encourage greater use of the town’s parks.

The ordinance states that the use of any smoking device in Bourbon’s public parks will be considered illegal. This includes, but is not limited to, cigarettes, cigars, e-cigarettes, and any other device that may produce smoke or vapor that is inhaled and exhaled. Anyone found in violation of the ordinance will be fined $50 for a first offense, $100 for a second offense, and $150 for a third or subsequent offense.

Citations for violations will be issued by the Town of Bourbon, and fines must be paid to the Bourbon Town Clerk-Treasurer within 30 days of the incident. All fines will be deposited into the Ordinance Violation Bureau fund. The Bourbon Town Council passed the ordinance unanimously.