Come Monday, all public buildings in Decatur are to be smoke-free. It’s the law.

Oct. 1 is the date when the no-smoking ordinance passed on a City Council vote of 3-2 on Aug. 6 takes place.

The ordinance will affect great change because habits are not easy to break. But there should be ample signs to remind smokers to not light up.

City attorney Herman Marks Jr. makes the ordinance easy to understand:

“You just don’t smoke in public places. That’s the bottom line.”

He says the city won’t have enforcement squads roaming the town to find violators. It is, however, reasonable to believe that some of the people who supported the ordinance so enthusiastically will be keeping watch and making reports.

With the threat of fines ranging up to $500 for both patrons and establishments for each violation, it is going to be expensive for smokers to defy the ordinance.

Some people may stop smoking as a result of the ordinance. For sure, it will spare non-smokers the harmful effects of tobacco smoke.

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