The Lane County Board of Commissioners Tuesday approved a ban on smoking and tobacco use in all the county’s parks.
The ordinanceincludes an exception for ceremonial tobacco use by members of Native American tribes. There will also be designated overnight campsites at some Lane County parks that allow smoking.
Lane County spokeswoman Devon Ashbridge says the move is part of an effort to encourage healthy behavior.
“One of the biggest killers in Lane County is smoking and tobacco use." Ashbridge says, "So part of that health improvement plan called for looking at ways we could reduce exposure to tobacco products and reduce smoking within the community.”
Ashbridge says the county will focus first on public education about the new smoking restrictions. It won’t formally enforce the ordinance until July 2018.
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