Hampton City Council passes smoke-free ordinance

The Hampton City Council voted unanimously at its Jan. 14 regular meeting to approve the second reading of an ordinance prohibiting smoking “in all public places in the city, including parks and other real property owned or controlled by the city,” according to the text of the ordinance.

A first reading of a separate ordinance approved at the same meeting defines “public place” as “any enclosed area in which the public is permitted, including, but not limited to, restaurants, educational facilities, recreational facilities, health care facilities, child care facilities, personal care homes, intermediate care (nursing) homes, auditoriums, theaters, arenas, convention centers, meeting rooms, convention halls, and any area (enclosed or otherwise) of any public park owned or operated by the City of Hampton.”

The second reading of that ordinance will likely be considered in February.