Denver approves smoking and vaping ban for 16th Street Mall
Smokers and vapers on Denver’s 16th Street Mall are now on notice: Starting Dec. 1, they will need to walk at least 50 feet down a side street before lighting up or puffing.
The Denver City Council approved the public smoking ban 9-0 on Monday night, ending a weeks-long debate about how best to ensure that police don’t use the new restrictions to single out the homeless or service workers on their smoke breaks.
Councilman Paul Kashmann put forth an amendment requiring the Denver Police Department to collect information about who receives tickets, with regular reports to the council.
Even if all it takes to comply with the ban is to venture far enough off the mall, he said, “I just want to be absolutely sure that those who decide to not take that stroll, due either to obstinance or ignorance,” aren’t unfairly targeted.
Read full story at The Denver Post.
DENVER, CO – OCTOBER 11: Vaping on the 16th St mall October 11, 2017 could be a thing of the past as the City Council committee will discuss and likely advance the 16th Street Mall smoking ban proposal. This would ban cig, cigar and vape smoking on the mall and within 50 feet of the paved portion, which means you can’t even duck around the corner for a drag on (Photo by John Leyba/The Denver Post)