WEST ORANGE With a flick of the pen, Gov. Richard J. Codey Sunday kicked New Jersey’s indoor smoking habit. In one of his last acts as governor, Codey Sunday signed the New Jersey Smoke-Free Air Act in West Orange, making it illegal to light up in New Jersey bars, restaurants and most other public places with the exception of casino floors. “Public health has won a major battle in Trenton,” said Codey before signing the legislation. “People will live longer lives because of this law. People who don’t smoke will be protected from a killer they never intended to meet...we will remove the looming death cloud that hangs over the head of every New Jerseyan - smoker or nonsmoker.” Codey also signed separate legislation raising the age at which a person can legally buy tobacco from 18 to 19. According to Fred M. Jacobs, commissioner for the state Department of Health and Senior Services, 90 percent of people start smoking before they’re 19 years old. He praised both pieces of legislation. “The data says smoking kills people, that it’s not just an annoyance,” Jacobs said. “That’s where we got the traction to get this done.” The indoor smoking ban is designed to protect customers and employees from the dangers of second hand smoke and will go into effect April 15. Smoking is already outlawed in government buildings. The legislation signed Sunday would also outlaw smoking in private office buildings, although since many private businesses already restrict smoking the focus has been on places like restaurants and bars. The legislation makes New Jersey the 11th state with such a ban, joining Delaware and New York, among others. Some business owners who rely on customers who puff away say their businesses will suffer withdrawals from the ban. “It’s going to hurt all of our businesses,” said John Italiano, owner of the Park Tavern in East Rutherford. “I’m going to have to put a sign in the window that says, no smoking, that’s it’.” In a raucous rally last week, hundreds of people and a handful of strippers turned up on the Statehouse steps to protest the legislation. Bowling alley operators have also sued the state to block the ban, but their request was thrown out by a Superior Court judge. In a controversial move, Atlantic City casino floors were exempted from the bill because proponents say the ban could hurt one of the state’s biggest employers and sources of income. Karen Blumenfeld, a director for the organization New Jersey Group Against Smoking Pollution, said in the future her group will lobby to include casinos floors in the ban. “Casino workers are getting smoked out of their workplaces,” Blumenfeld said. “They deserve a healthy, safe workplace like everyone else. The concentration of second hand smoke is extremely high and they’re getting lung cancer because of it.” Last week, the Assembly voted 64-12, with two abstentions, in favor of the smoking ban, after the state Senate passed the measure 29-7 on Dec. 15. In addition to casino floors, cigar bars and tobacco retailers are also exempt from the law. Restaurants and other establishments that violate the smoking ban would have to pay a fine between $250 and $1,000.