ORANGE COUNTY – The beginning of the new year always brings the implementation of new laws and regulations. Locally, January 1 marks the start of Orange County’s ban on smoking in public places.

Beginning this month, smoking is not allowed on public property in Orange County—including parks and sidewalks as well as government buildings. Smoking is also banned on “private property where the public is invited.”

The penalty for violating the new rule is a $25 fine, but that won’t go into effect until July. For the first six months, county officials will focus on educating people about the new law and putting up proper signage to let people know.

The Orange County Health Department has established an Implementation Advisory Committee to coordinate the implementation of the law, with a focus on education, signage, enforcement, and cessation—that is, actually curtailing smoking activity. Cessation is the committee’s initial focal point: they’ll be working with and promoting the state’s NC Quitline, a free resource to help residents stop smoking.