In an attempt to keep tobacco products away from children, legislators in Ulster County, N.Y. have passed a new law requiring that all retailers maintain both a state and local license to sell tobacco, as well as requiring all new tobacco retailers to be at least 1,000 feet from public or private schools.

Violators will be subject to fines and possible revocation of their license.

The law was signed into effect yesterday by county executive Mike Hein, according to TWCNews.com.

Ulster County has a population of approximately 181,000 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.