MAYOR GIULIANI SIGNS BILL NUMBER 141-A, AMENDING THE ADMINISTRATIVE CODE IN RELATION TO THE SMOKE-FREE AIR ACT
REMARKS BY MAYOR RUDOLPH W. GIULIANI AT PUBLIC HEARING ON LOCAL LAWS
The bill before me this afternoon is Introductory Number 141-A, which was introduced by Council Members Robles, Fisher, Stabile and Wooten. This legislation amends the Administrative Code of the City of New York in relation to certain prohibitions and requirements of Local Law 5 of 1995, also known as the Smoke-Free Air Act.
Under the provisions of the Smoke Free Air Act, ashtrays are prohibited in all smoke free areas, including hotel entrances and elevator lobbies. Introductory Number 141-A would amend Local Law 5 by permitting ashtrays to be placed immediately adjacent to hotel and motel elevators and public entrances. The ashtrays would be required to be located so that second hand smoke from such ashtrays would not activate smoke detectors. In order to emphasize that smoking in these areas would continue to be prohibited, "No Smoking" signs would also be required to be posted immediately adjacent to such ashtrays.
The ashtray prohibition of the Smoke Free Air Act has raised concerns for hotels and motels because of improperly extinguished tobacco products which create a risk to public safety. Representatives of the industry have reported that hotel and motel guests and visitors who enter hotel or motel lobbies or who congregate near elevators, upon realizing smoking is not permitted, often extinguish their tobacco products on walls, floors and carpets because ashtrays are no longer legally available in those areas. Such actions have created fire hazards and have caused hotels and motels to suffer significant property damage.
For the reasons previously stated, I will now sign the bill.
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