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Effective December 8, 2005, secondhand smoke is prohibited in most public places. Below are some Washington state laws and policies that protect people from secondhand smoke exposure:
Smoking in Public Places Law
Washington is the 10th state to implement a comprehensive statewide law prohibiting smoking in all restaurants and bars. Washington is the 5th state to have a state law that requires 100% of workplaces including restaurants and bars to be smoke free.
Washington state residents voted on November 8, 2005, to amend the 1985 Clean Indoor Air Act. Initiative Measure 901 will expand the definition of "public place" to include a reasonable distance around each public facility, defined as 25 feet from entrances, exits, windows that open, and ventilation intakes that serve an enclosed area where smoking is prohibited. The definition of "public place" includes private residences used to provide licensed childcare, foster care, adult care, or similar social services. The definition also includes bars, taverns, bowling centers, skating rinks, casinos, and at least 75 percent of the sleeping quarters within a hotel or motel and rented to guests. The new law took effect beginning December 8, 2005.
Click here to see the election results in your county.
To see the complete text of Initiative Measure No. 901, according to the Washington Secretary of State’s office click here.
The Washington Clean Indoor Air Act
In order to protect the health and welfare of Washington state citizens, the state legislature in 1985 ruled that it is necessary to prohibit smoking in public places except in areas designated as smoking areas. This includes public vehicles, such as buses and trains, and public places, such as elevators, concert halls, theaters, museums, hospitals, indoor sports arenas, enclosed shopping areas, retail stores, public restrooms, educational facilities, and more. On November 8, 2005, Washingtonians voted to amend this Act (see Initiative 901 above).
To learn more about the Smoking in Public Places Law visit the Washington State Legislature Web site.
For more information on the Smoking in Public Places Law visit the Washington State Department of Health’s Web site.
Rules on smoking in office work environments
In 1994, it was ruled that all indoor office work environments must control their employees’ exposure to secondhand smoke. Under this rule, employers with two or more office employees are required to eliminate indoor smoking entirely and establish a designated smoking room engineered to prevent exposure to secondhand smoke to those outside the designated room. If an employer does not follow this rule, they can be fined up to $200.
For more information on smoking in office work environments visit the Washington State Department of Health’s Web site.
Tobacco use prohibited in childcare facilities
Smoking is prohibited in child daycare centers when children are present and in cars when the daycare provider transports children. The childcare provider may smoke outdoors, away from the building, where children are not present. This rule was passed in 1990.
For more information on tobacco use prohibited in childcare facilities visit the Washington State Department of Health’s Web site.
For more information or to contact you Local Health Department click here.
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