More communities adopting their own anti-smoking ordinances to include the outdoors..

May 27, 2008 - Since Illinois' indoor smoking ban went into effect Jan. 1, 2008, communities in the Chicago area like Lake Forest and Lake Bluff banned smoking on the beach and public parks as well as their downtown shopping districts, outdoor dining areas and public sidewalks within 25 feet of a public building's entrance. Since October 2007 smoking has been off limits at beaches, parks and playground in Chicago. The park district board voted unanimously to pass the ban and it went into effect immediately. The penalty for violating the ban is a $500 fine. Enforcement relies on citizens to turn smokers in to police. References: Smokers find oasis on the greens by Susan Kuczka, ChicagoTribune.com, 5/15/2008; New Smoking Ban Passes In Chicago No Lighting Up At Beaches, Parks, Playgrounds, cbs2chicago.com, 10/7/2007. Related news briefs: March 6, 2008 andJanuary 7, 2008. See also: Earth Day 2008 promoting environmental citizenship - Tobacco A Major Culprit..