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Boulder City Council Delays Outdoor Smoking Ban

BOULDER, Colo. (CBS4)- A final vote on the proposed outdoor smoking ban along the Pearl Street Mall in Boulder has been delayed.

The proposed smoking ban was changed during last night's Boulder City Council meeting so council members have yet to vote on the finalized version.

The final vote is expected Dec. 18.

If the proposal passes, no one would be allowed to smoke anywhere on the pedestrian mall.

The penalties are strict with fines of up to $1,000 or up to 90 days in jail.

A lot of complaints from tourists, residents and business owners about the dangers of secondhand smoke prompted the outdoor smoking ban proposal.

Secondhand smoke kills 40,000 people in the U.S. every year.

Sean Maher with the Boulder Business Improvement District says businesses have been booming downtown despite the indoor smoking ban put in place in 1995. He says outdoor bans have already been successful in California and Minnesota.

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