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New Dallas Smoking Ban May Be Delayed

By BJ Austin, KERA News

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kera/local-kera-827917.mp3

Dallas, TX – The new Dallas smoking ban is to go into effect in about two weeks or maybe NOT.

At the City Council meeting today, a public speaker urged a delay in the April 10th indoor smoking ban. Spencer Kopf told council members that businesses need more time to get building permits to construct "patios" - where smoking could be allowed.

Council member Tennell Atkins agrees.

Atkins: And what I'm hearing is that some club owners cannot get a permit, not because of their fault, but because of the city's fault. They don't have time to get a permit in order to build a patio.

The council will vote on a possible smoking ban delay on April 8th. That's two days before it's supposed to kick-in.

Send E-mail to BJ Austin