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New Dallas Smoking Ban in Effect

By BJ Austin, KERA News

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kera/local-kera-830723.mp3

Dallas, TX – Dallas is smoke free, starting today. The new ban includes bars and all other indoor public places.

Assistant Dallas City Manager Forrest Turner says three more Environmental Health Services inspectors will be hired to help enforce the new smoking ban. But Turner says they won't be the "smoke police" looking for violators. They will respond only to specific complaints.

Al DaDamio owns a bar at Preston and Beltline. He expects the smoking ban will hurt his business because of its location.

DaDamio: It's going to affect us tremendously. We're so close to Addison. We'll just comply and try to make it. Hopefully, it'll go statewide here soon and level out the playing field.

Addison allows smoking in bars. Denton State Representative Myra Crownover is sponsoring a stateside smoking ban.

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