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Article published: Apr 4, 2006
House Judiciary approves restaurant smoking ban bill

Smoking would be banned in South Carolina restaurants under a bill that is headed to the House floor.

The House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday approved the legislation that bans smoking in all restaurant, bar, lounge and recreational facilities. The committee agreed to exceptions for cigar bars and private clubs, such as the American Legion.

The bill no longer has the criminal penalties it had when it came out of a subcommittee.

State Rep. Todd Rutherford, D-Columbia, said the bill was about clean air and protecting the public, but some on the committee said it would put the state on a course to ban smoking in other places.

The proposal moves to the House floor.

The committee also passed a bill that increases penalties for parents who don't properly restrain their children in vehicles to no more than $200, well above the current $25 fine. Drivers could be put in jail for $30 days and fined $500 for injuries caused by a child not being restrained.