No smoking in Fulton County parks after government ban
Fulton County has banned smoking in its parks. And anyone who is found lighting up could face a substantial fine —or even time in jail.
The ordinance, which went into effect last week, intends to diminish the effects of second-hand smoking.
Annual health care costs in Georgia related to second-hand smoke are nearly $200 million, according to the state Department of Public Health. The county estimated about 14 percent of residents are smokers.
In a county poll of nearly 1,000 residents, about three-quarters were in favor of smoke-free parks. In interviews, though, some thought the punishment was too high.
To read more about the no smoking law, click here.
About the Author
Arielle Kass covers Gwinnett County for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. She started at the paper in 2010, and has covered business and local government beats around metro Atlanta. Arielle is a graduate of Emory University.
