Published on: Wednesday, November 21, 2012

By Christa Puccio

ROCKVILLE – Montgomery County Councilmember Nancy Floreen offered details on a smoking ban bill she plans to introduce on Nov. 27.

“There is no risk-free level of exposure to secondhand smoke,” said Floreen.  “The purpose of this bill is to protect innocent, nonsmokers and frankly, give an incentive to smokers to kick the habit.”

Secondhand smoke contains more than 7,000 chemicals, at least 69 of which cause cancer, according to the American Cancer Society Great American Smokeout.  In addition, 3,400 nonsmoking adults die of lung cancer as a result of breathing secondhand smoke, according to the American Cancer Society.  

“I have unfortunately spent a lot of time over the past year with people who have cancer,” said Floreen, a breast cancer survivor.  “I want to do everything I can to help prevent this awful disease in all of its forms, and this is a good place to start.”

Currently, laws already exist against smoking near playgrounds, restaurants, bars and more.  If this bill passes, it will all encompassing, baning smoking in and on all Montgomery County owned and leased property.  While Floreen said enforcement of this bill will be complaint driven, the penalty will be a Class C misdemeanor offense.

The bill is co-sponsored by Council Vice President Nancy Navarro and Councilmember Craig Rice, Hans Riemer, George Leventhal and Marc Elrich.  

The public hearing is tentatively scheduled for Jan. 15.