A proposed ban on the use of tobacco products while on the boardwalk of Ocean City, N.J. will get its first reading by the city council tonight.

Currently, smoking is limited to seven areas along the boardwalk, a measure that was passed in 2003 in response to 19 fires in the area over a period of three years, according to OCNJ Daily. The change would create a year-round, all-hours smoking ban and extend to ramps and stairs that lead to the boardwalk.

The proposal currently has fines for violators ranging from $100 to $250 for first offenses, that escalate to between $500 and $1000 for additional offenses. A copy of the city council’s agenda, which includes the proposed ordinance, can be found here.

Ocean City has approximately 11,500 residents and is located in Cape May County, 11 miles south of Atlantic City.

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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.