Information Booklets to Inform Residents on New Smoking Regulations

Sunday, 21 June 2015 11:21

If your caught smoking in certain public places be prepared to pay the fine.

OXFORD COUNTY - As of January 1st, the government implemented new regulations that will limit where the public can smoke mainly where children are present. Over the past several months Oxford County Public Health has been handing out booklets that will be available at community events to promote the new regulation. Oxford County Public Health Tobacco Control Coordinator Gemma Urbani details what the new regulations are and how this will effect smokers. "We are presenting the regulatory amendments that happened January 1st, which will prohibit smoking on bar and restaurants patios, at community events and 20 meters from playgrounds, spectator areas, and sports fields. The piece of legislation was written in order to protect people from second hand smoke exposure and was a need to protect children and youth around sport fields and playground area.''

Smoking in public places such as a community events or on patios of restaurants could cost you a significant amount of money in fines this summer. Oxford County Public Health Tobacco Enforcement Officer Joshua Standel spoke to Heart FM after making a presentation to Woodstock City Council as to what is available to municipalities to make the public aware of the change. "There are banners and web buttons basically so each municipality or township can put them on their web site, so basically just to increase the exposure. We've also given out information packages to various community vendors and special events organizers so that they can kind of promote the amendments to the act at their community events, and to the different stakeholders that are getting involved."

Those looking to enjoy restaurant patios this summer in Oxford County will now be able to do that 100% smoke free. Standel explains those that disobey the new regulation will have to pay the fine. "They start off in the hundreds, so you could get a 250 dollar fine up to a 350 dollar fine for a first offence. Then we could go par 3 which is essentially a court date, and the fine is determined up to the Justice of the Peace and could be in the thousands of dollars."