$2M net cost of Ohio smoking ban

-- Newly released Ohio Department of Health figures show the state has spent $3.2 million to impose $1.2 million in fines on violators of Ohio's smoking ban.

Republican state Sen. Bill Seitz of Cincinnati says the state's $2 million net cost of enforcing the law is money that would be better spent on education, health care or other programs. The health department provided the numbers on a request from Seitz, a
critic of the ban and a smoker himself.

Department indoor environment chief Mandy Burkett says the price tag is not unreasonable and says the state will eventually see savings in other areas, including health care costs.

Voters approved the statewide ban on smoking in indoor public places in 2006 and enforcement began the following May.

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• smoking
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• net
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