N.J. moves closer to banning indoor smoking

| 29 Sep 2011 | 07:58

    TRENTON — A bill that would ban smoking in restaurants, bars and most other indoor public places — but not casino floors — went to the governor’s desk Monday after the state Assembly overwhelmingly passed the measure. Acting Gov. Richard J. Codey has said he intends to sign the bill into law. The law would become effective 90 days after he signs it. It would make New Jersey the 11th state with such a ban, joining Delaware and New York, among others. `The Assembly voted 64-12, with two abstentions, in favor of the bill. The state Senate passed the measure 29-7 on Dec. 15. The vote came on the final day of the two-year legislative session as both chambers considered nearly 200 bills. Some lawmakers were swayed by the owners of bars and bowling alleys who have said the law would force many of them to fire employees or close, and will give Atlantic City casinos an advantage. ``It just simply isn’t fair,’’ said Assemblyman Joseph Cryan, D-Union County. He told his colleagues that the measure suggests a new state slogan: ``When the chips are down, you can still light up in Atlantic City.’’ The bill, which was decade in the making, also exempts cigar bars and tobacco retailers from the ban. Violators would face fines of $250 to $1,000. Many legislators said they disliked the casino exemption. A sponsor, Sen. John H. Adler, D-Camden County, said he doubts there is the ``political will’’ to ban smoking on gambling floors, but believes that will change. ``I think, over time, casinos will choose to go smoke-free as smoking declines,’’ Adler said. Bar and restaurant owners questioned the need for the ban, asserting that two-thirds of such places already banned smoking, giving patrons plenty of choice. Although anti-smoking groups contended that the New York ban did not result in lost business, New Jersey bar and restaurant owners said the Big Apple statistics were skewed because they began measurement after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, when business was depressed. The New Jersey Restaurant Association had suggested lawmakers give businesses the option of voluntarily adopting smoke-free policies, and those that did not could be required to limit smoking to enclosed areas with air-cleaning filters.