The borough of Franklin Lakes, N.J. has banned smoking in all recreation areas following an unanimous vote by the city council on Dec. 16.

Smokers must now be at least 35 feet from the entrances to all municipal buildings, as well as completely banning smoking in all parks, playgrounds and ball fields, including parking areas and driveways adjacent to those spaces. Those who are caught in violation of the law face a first time fine of $250 that escalates to $500 for a second offense and $1,000 for a third offense, according to a report on NorthJersey.com.

The full text of Ordinance 1612 can be found here. The change goes into effect immediately.

Franklin Lakes is home to just under 11,000 people and is located about 24 miles north of Newark.

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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.