People who want to light up while eating out may have to go way out - like out of town - if the mayor signs a ban on smoking in Los Angeles restaurants.
The City Council approved the ban 8-6 after a raucous, 25-minute hearing Wednesday."This is a joyous day for all of Los Angeles, for all of the smokers and all of the non-smokers," said Councilman Marvin Braude, a former two-pack-a-day smoker who became the city's chief gadfly on the subject.
At least 50 cities and counties in California, which has long been in the forefront of the no-smoking battle, ban smoking in restaurants. Los Angeles, with nearly 4 million people, would be the nation's largest city to do so.
"If this new law goes in, we're dead," Rose Keegel, owner of Musso & Frank Grill in Hollywood. "We have many fine restaurants in Los Angeles. Something like this would just send them elsewhere."
"If someone really wants to go someplace to smoke, they're going to have the option to go elsewhere pretty easily," said Tom Hale, bar manager of the trendy Barefoot Cafe. The Barefoot is just a few feet from Beverly Hills and West Hollywood, which wouldn't be affected by the ban.
Braude, however, said the ordinance would attract tourists who want to experience a smoke-free city.
Mayor Tom Bradley, who leaves office next week, said he hasn't decided whether to sign the measure. Mayor-elect Richard Riordan has said he would.
The ban puts out cigarettes in 7,000 restaurants, while exempting bars, nightclubs and outdoor dining areas.
Smokers would be slapped with a $50 ticket for a first offense, $100 for a second offense within a year and $250 for all offenses thereafter. Restaurant owners who don't comply could get up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine.