Sioux Falls, S.D. Has New Smoking Ban

It wasn’t as restrictive as some had hoped, but in the case of Sioux Falls, S.D., some smoking ban is clearly better than none.

On Tuesday night, the city council passed an ordinance that bans the use of tobacco products and electronic smoking devices within 25 feet to the entrance to any city building, as well as at city parks during events geared towards youth. Larger events held within the city will have to designate smoking areas on permit applications that will be reviewed and approved by the city.

While smoking on the city’s golf courses is still allowed, it has been banned in the areas around the clubhouses, which include the first tee and the greens of the 9th and 18th holes. Smoking is also now banned at ticketing and loading stations for city buses. Additionally, the use of tobacco products and electronic smoking devices is now prohibited in all vehicles owned, leased, or operated by the city.

The new law does not include any monetary fines for those who violate the ban, but those individuals can be ejected from events or buildings where the ban is in effect.

Sioux Falls is the most populous city in South Dakota with a population of nearly 169,000 people.

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 Major League Baseball, 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.