Smoking in parks has been snuffed out in yet another city, as on Tuesday the Iowa City Council voted 6-1 to add parks to the list of places where smoking is prohibited.

Mayor Jim Throgmorton was the lone opponent to the proposal, which passed its third reading and will go into effect upon publication. The ban applies to the use of all forms of tobacco, as well as e-cigarettes. The lone exception is for tobacco used in a private vehicle.

Since the ban has been added to the city’s existing list of places where smoking is banned, the existing penalty of a simple misdemeanor with a fine of $50 for violators will also apply

Iowa City is home to approximately 75,000 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.