Lighting up cigarettes in North Augusta can now bring a fine.
Waffle House patrons on Georgia Avenue quickly lit cigarettes and smoked before the smoking ordinance became valid at noon Friday.
Nick Mims, of Beech Island, said he chooses to eat in North Augusta because he can smoke, but now that will change.
"There's nowhere else to go," he said.
Mims, 32, said he smokes while he eats as a way to relax.
"We'd go to The Highlander, me and my friends, because it was closer, but I guess not anymore," he said.
Businesses will be affected by the ban, Mims said. He feels it should be left up to individual businesses to decide whether to allow smoking.
North Augusta resident Bill Allen, 57, agreed that it should be up to businesses. Even though he is not a smoker, he said he is not bothered by smokers around him while dining in Waffle House.
"I don't think nonsmokers inhale deep enough to have an effect," he said. "I saw a study recently that said it doesn't affect you."
Allen said he feels restaurants such as Monterrey Restaurante Mexicano are large enough that a smoking section won't bother nonsmokers.
People who don't comply with the ordinance face fines of $10 to $25.
North Augusta Police Chief Lee Wetherington said his officers don't want to be the "police Nazis" and that initial response will be complaint-based.
"We won't be actively looking for people smoking in public," he said. "We are not going into restaurants walking around looking at tables to make sure nobody's smoking."
Business owners are responsible for asking patrons to dispose of cigarettes, he said.
The ordinance prohibits smoking in public places and places of employment. Private residences, hotel and motel rooms designated as smoking rooms, tobacco stores, outdoor areas of places of employment and private clubs are exempt under specific regulations.
The smoking ordinance is available at www.northaugusta.net.
Reach Crystal Garcia at crystal.garcia@northaugustatoday.com.
