Eau Claire has become the latest city in the state to pass a public smoking ban.
On a 7-4 vote Tuesday, the city council approved the ordinance, which prohibits smoking in workplaces, including bars and some outdoor public areas, such as stadiums.
Council member Berlye Middleton thought the council was overstepping its bounds with the ban.
One of the authors of the ordinance, council member Dave Duax said an Eau Claire County Board Committee now plans to consider a county-wide smoking ban.
Eau Claire becomes the fifth Wisconsin city to enact its own smoking ban.
The ban takes effect July 1st. Fines for violators will run from 50 dollars to 500 dollars.
