Maryland City Bans Smoking In Outdoor Restaurant, Bar Areas

ROCKVILLE, Md. (AP) — The Rockville City Council voted to prohibit smoking or vaping in open-air sections of restaurants and bars, becoming only the second Maryland locality to mandate smoke-free outdoor drinking and dining.

With a 4-to-1 vote on Monday night, Rockville will join La Plata along with more than 230 jurisdictions and four states in passing the ban. Neither Washington, D.C. nor Virginia has passed such legislation.

The lone dissenting vote was cast by Council member Mark Pierzchala, who said the bill represented government overreach because smoking and use of tobacco are legal activities.

Recent studies indicate that, under certain conditions, tobacco smoke can be just as damaging to outdoor air quality, both to nonsmokers and workers who wait tables.

The ordinance is effective immediately, and council members said they would discuss fines at future meetings.

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