The Phoenix, Ariz. suburb of Fountain Hills has passed an ordinance banning smoking and the use of e-cigarettes and vaping devices in all of its parks, trails and recreation areas. The ordinance also contained an emergency clause, which means that the ban went into effect upon passage.
Violators of the ordinance will first be asked to leave the property and prohibited from returning for the rest of the day. Should an individual refuse, they could face a fine of $100 for a first offense, $200 for a second offense and $300 for a third offense. A fourth offense within 24 months would subject a person to being charged with a class 1 misdemeanor.
The town council passed the ordinance during its June 19 meeting.
Fountain Hills is located approximately 30 miles northeast of Phoenix and is home to just under 25,000 residents.
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, the G-League's Valley Suns, 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.