SAN MARCOS, Texas (AP) — A Central Texas city’s ban on smoking in most public places includes e-cigarettes.
The San Marcos City Council last October approved a no-smoking ordinance that began in January on city property. The measure took effect this week for restaurants, bars and places of employment in the city of 50,000, located 30 miles south of Austin.
The ordinance, as defined Monday on the San Marcos city website, includes e-cigarettes and other inhaled vapor devices.
The measure bars smoking in enclosed areas of public places and workplaces, outside within 10 feet of entrances and windows and on city owned or rented property. Properties wishing to build outdoor smoking areas had until Sunday to obtain and post permits. The sites have until Jan. 1 to go smoke-free.
Violators face fines starting at $200.