The Oklahoma City Council voted yesterday to extend its existing smoking ban to even more areas, making virtually all city-owned property smoke free.

The only two areas spared were the city’s municipal golf courses and the horse racing track, and it was that exemption that prevented it from being unanimously approved, as Ward 2 Councilman Ed Shadid wanted to keep people from enjoying a cigar or other smoke while playing golf. The expansion of the ban, which was authored by Ward 4 Councilman Pete White, passed 7-1.

City streets and sidewalks also remain exempt from the ban, provided they are being used solely for travel.

Once the ban goes into effect in 30 days, violators will be subject to a $100 fine.

Oklahoma City is both the capitol and largest city in Oklahoma, with a population of just over 610,000 residents, while its metropolitan area is home to nearly 1.5 million people.

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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.