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Anti-smoking law stands Central Point voters affirm ban for most indoor public places By Sara Murphy CENTRAL POINT � Smokers should think twice before lighting up in Central Point today. Caught in the wrong place, a puff could cost at least $50. Voters in Tuesday�s election upheld the city�s controversial anti-smoking ordinance by 63 percent. The law, put on hold since February, takes effect today. "I think it�s a banner day for Central Point," said City Councilman Dave Gilmour Tuesday. "If it�s passing by that margin, now�s the time for other cities to follow our lead." The ordinance, first passed by the City Council in January, bans smoking in most indoor public places, including restaurants. Bars, tobacco stores, homes and motel rooms are exempt. Before the law could go into effect in February, citizens launched a referendum campaign that put the ordinance on pause until voters could decide the issue. Mayor Bill Walton, a strong supporter of the ordinance, said he wasn�t surprised voters also favored the new law. "I predicted the vote would come in between 62 percent and 64 percent" in favor of the ordinance, Walton said. "It came right in." Larry Thornton, leader of the effort to repeal the ordinance, was disappointed with the voters� decision, but not sorry he gave them the chance to vote on the issue. "I wanted to know how they felt, and now I know," said Thornton, who owns The Old Center Cafe. "They don�t want to govern their own lives, they want rules." Thornton, who has already removed the ashtrays from his restaurant, thanked the minority who voted against the ordinance and said he�s not a sore loser. "The people have spoken," Thornton said. "That�s what I�ve been for all along." In addition to banning smoking in restaurants and other public buildings, the ordinance seeks to limit youth access to tobacco products. Tobacco retailers will need to purchase an annual license with the city, at a cost of $10. Self-service tobacco displays, except vending machines in certain businesses, will be prohibited. Retailers may be fined or lose their license if they violate the ordinance. Also, smoking is prohibited within 10 feet of entrances to buildings where smoking is prohibited. Smokers who get caught lighting up in the wrong spot, or business owners who let them, can be fined $50 to $100 for the first offense. A third violation in any 12-month period could cost up to $500. Obituaries | Sports | Business | Classifieds | Tempo | Prime Times | So Oregon Sites | Outdoor Journal | Subscribe | Contact | Movies | Advertise | Real Estate Showcase | Archive | Editorials | Letters to the editor | Religion | Wake-up Call | NIE | Cyber Chef | Job Network | So Oregon Weather | WSJ Northwest | Forums | AP Wire | AP Money | F.A.Q. | Awards Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. The Community Newspaper Subsidiary of Dow Jones & Co, Inc Copyright �The Mail Tribune 2000, Medford, Oregon USA