The Baltimore County Council has passed legislation that will limit where people can smoke in parks, prohibiting people from lighting up at playgrounds, tot lots, dog parks and athletic fields, and within 30 feet of recreation buildings. The main goal of the ban was to prevent people from smoking where children are present, and represents a scaled back version from a full-blown ban on smoking in parks that some had hoped to see passed.

The council voted 6-0, with one member absent, in favor of the proposal on Tuesday. Some members of the council felt a smoking ban on all parkland was too drastic according to BaltimoreSun.com, and the proposal that was passed was seen as a reasonable compromise.

The measure now needs to be signed by County Executive Kevin Kamenetz, and if so it will take effect in 45 days. with violators of the new ordinance facing fines up to $50.

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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.