RICHMOND (AP) -- Restaurants all across Virginia are dealing with new smoking regulations.
As of today, restaurants will be allowed to have a smoking area only if they segregate smokers into rooms with separate ventilation systems.
The law also allows smoking on outdoor patios and in private membership clubs.
Violators face a $25 fine as do restaurant owners who don't enforce the restrictions.
To comply with the law, by midnight tonight no smoking signs must be posted and ashtrays must be removed in any restaurant or bar not meeting an exemption to the ban.
The Smoke-free Places Virginia site provides information for both restaurants and consumers.
Restaurant owners are provided resources to make the transition easy and painless.
Consumers can find a listing of current smoke-free restaurants and can download a complaint form to report a restaurant or bar that's not complying with the new law.
The American Heart Association of VA, the American Lung Association in VA, American Cancer Society, the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, and Prevention Connections worked together on this project.
A ban takes effect on January 2, 2010 in the North Carolina, country's largest tobacco-producing state.
The law allows fines of up to $50 for people who smoke after being asked to stop, and up to $200 for managers who've been twice warned to enforce the rules.
Gov.Bev Perdue called the smoking restrictions a historic step to protect health and that she supports reducing and eliminating smoking.
(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
