
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, March 10, 1990                   TAG: 9003122959
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A9   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

SMOKING LIMITS

SMOKERS who are considerate about where their smoke blows may hardly be aware of Virginia's new state law. Nevertheless, adoption of the first statewide controls on smoking in public is significant: The tobacco industry has lost some of its grip on the General Assembly.

Tobacco is still important to Virginia's economy, so it's not surprising the state is one of the last to restrict smoking in public places. But surveys have shown consistently that the American public favors controls on smoking. And this year, the message got through to legislators.

Sen. Thomas Michie, D-Charlottesville, sponsored the strongest measure. The weakest was offered by Del. Richard Cranwell, D-Vinton, who thought smoking really ought to be regulated by common courtesy. It ought to be, but hasn't been.

The bill that passed was a compromise, and the General Assembly is to be commended for going as far as it did. It could have got by with a symbolic gesture.

Under the new law, smoking will be prohibited in such places as elevators, checkout lines, school buses and hospital emergency rooms. Restaurants with 50 or more seats will have to provide no-smoking areas, as will stores with 15,000 square feet or more.

The fine for continuing to smoke in a no-smoking area after being asked to refrain is a maximum of $25.

Smokers shouldn't feel persecuted under this law. Still, it puts Virginia solidly on the side of public health. It's a forward step.

by CNB