Earlier this week, city leaders in Waco, Texas voted to bring an end to smoking in bars, restaurants and a number of public places, a change that will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2016. The ban passed by a vote of 5-1.

Retail tobacco shops as well as smoking lounges and electronic cigarette stores were exempted from the ban.

The city council also approved an modification that reduces the minimum distance a smoker must be from doors to a business from 20 feet to 15, and has provided language that could allow bar and restaurant owners to allow for smoking on outdoor patios.

Additionally, city parks will have small, designated smoking areas created where people will be allowed to light up.

Both individuals and businesses can be fined for violating the ban, with fines starting at $50 and escalating to $500 per offense.

Waco is located approximately 100 miles south of Dallas and is home to an estimated 129,000 residents.

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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.