Baltimore City Moves Closer to Smoking Ban

Smoking bans in indoor public places already exist in Montgomery, Prince George's, Howard, and Talbot Counties in Maryland. Washington, D.C.'s ban will go into effect with the new year. Baltimore City inched closer to joining the clean lung club as a city council committee approved a ban which would go into effect in January 2008. However, Martin O'Malley just might veto the legislation if it is passed by the city council:

The measure would prohibit smoking in all public places, including bars and restaurants, bowling alleys and taxicabs. Cigar bars, outdoor seating areas of restaurants, private clubs and certain tobacco shops would be exempt from the ban, if the owners apply for and are granted a waiver.

The mayor has repeatedly said he prefers a statewide smoking ban to prohibitions being passed by individual jurisdictions, which he says could create unfair competition among bars and restaurants.

However, the article in the Baltimore Sun revealingly explains that the General Assembly hasn't exactly rushed to embrace a statewide ban and why action by Baltimore City might stimulate greater action by the legislature:

Maryland's Democratic-controlled legislature has killed a proposed statewide smoking ban four years in a row. New York, California and Massachusetts approved statewide bans after their largest cities passed local restrictions, advocates say.

Of course, the smoking ban might have a shot if it is all in the family. Councilman Robert W. Curran, who chaired the city council committee which passed the ban 4-1 and said that the proposed smoking ban is "something we should be proud of", just happens to be the uncle of the mayor's wife.