Smoke-Free Air Acts in the United States

Smoke-Free Air Acts are being passed in more and more states throughout the United States. These Smoke-Free Air Acts are creating problems for smokers today because they regulate or even prohibit smoking in certain areas or under certain circumstances. But, non-smokers are really enjoying these new laws that make it easier for them to breath.

Thanks to Smoke-Free Air Acts, today it is nearly impossible for a smoker to sit at a table in a restaurant and light up, anywhere in the restaurant. They also make it illegal,to some extent, to smoke in governmental workplaces, in private workplaces, in school or on school property, in recreational and cultural facilities. These laws are being enforced and penalties being given to those breaking the laws associated with the Smoke-Free Air Acts.

Today there are at least twenty-six states that have Smoke-Free Air Acts. The first state to pass it's own Smoke-Free Air Act was California and it passed it's first version in 1994. Some twelve years passed before more states followed California's lead. In 2002, Delaware, Florida, Idaho and South Dakota all passed their particular versions of Smoke-Free Air Acts. The following year New York, Connecticut and Maine put their Smoke-Free Air Acts into effect. 2004 was the year that Massachusetts, and Rhode Island had their own Smoke-Free Air Acts go into effect. Vermont, Washington, North Dakota and Georgia soon followed in 2005. In 2006, residents in New Jersey, Utah, Hawaii, Montana and Colorado had their states put Smoke-Free Air Acts into effect. This year, 2007, Louisiana, Puerto Rico and Wisconsin will become the latest states to follow in this Smoke-Free movement. Montana and Utah already have additions to their Smoke-Free Air Acts scheduled to go into effect in 2009.