City-County Council tries for smoking ban again

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - Another effort is under way to outlaw smoking in most bars, bowling alleys and hotel rooms in Marion County.

This marks the third attempt since February by the City-County Council to add these establishments to the ban.

The proposed measure is designed to pick up where the state and city bans fell off. Democrat councilors were set on Monday to introduce a proposal to extend the smoking ban to bars, taverns, bowling alleys and hotel rooms. A similar measure was passed by the council on a vote of 19 to 9 in January but was vetoed by Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard. Democrats failed to gain enough support to override that veto.

The new measure would exempt cigar and hookah bars as well as fraternal and veterans clubs.

The measure is expected to soon be in the hands of the Rules and Public policy committee. A vote on the measure is expected as soon as mid-April.

If passed, the ordinance could go into effect as soon as spring.John L