Come Sept. 1, smokers in Bessemer City, N.C. will be hard pressed to find a place to light up, as the city passed a comprehensive smoking ban at its meeting on Monday.

Included in the ban is a prohibition on lighting up in city parks and recreation areas as well as public spaces, which is defined as “an enclosed area to which the public is invited or permitted.” City grounds and vehicles are also part of the ban, such as the areas around government buildings.

Two areas of note that were not included in the ban are city sidewalks and the outdoor seating areas and patios of restaurants and bars.

Those who violate the ban will be subject to a fine of $50, while city employees who are caught smoking on city property can face additional disciplinary action, while managers of city property and facilities can be subject to an additional $200 fine.

Bessemer City is located in the southwestern part of the state, approximately 25 miles west of Charlotte, and is home to an estimated 5,340 residents.

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Patrick Lagreid

I strive to capture the essence of a cigar and the people behind them in my work – every cigar you light up is the culmination of the work of countless people and often represents generations of struggle and stories. For me, it’s about so much more than the cigar – it’s about the story behind it, the experience of enjoying the work of artisans and the way that a good cigar can bring people together. In addition to my work with halfwheel, I’m the public address announcer for the Colorado Rockies and Arizona Diamondbacks during spring training, as well as for the Salt River Rafters of the Arizona Fall League, the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury and previously the Arizona Rattlers of the Indoor Football League. I also work in a number of roles for MLB.com, plus I'm a voice over artist. Prior to joining halfwheel, I covered the Phoenix and national cigar scene for Examiner.com, and was an editor for Cigar Snob magazine.