ORD-2008-006 – Ord Regulating Smoking in Bldgs & Motor Vehicles Owned by or Leased by Orange Co

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~u AMENDMENTS TO THE ORANGE COUNTY ORDINANCE REGULATING SMOKING IN BUILDINGS OWNED BY OR LEASED TO ORANGE COUNTY AND MOTOR VEHICLES " OWNED BY OR LEASED TO ORANGE COUNTY BE IT ORDAINED THAT THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF ORANGE COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA, hereby amends its Ordinance Regulating Smoking in Buildings Owned by or Leased to Orange County. and Motor Vehicles Owned by or Leased to Orange County by deleting the Ordinance in its entirety and replacing it as follows: ORANGE COUNTY ORDINANCE PROHIBITING TOBACCO USE IN BUILDINGS OWNED BY OR LEASED TO ORANGE COUNTY AND PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION VEHICLES OWNED BY OR LEASED TO ORANGE COUNTY WHEREAS, tobacco use is the number one preventable cause of premature death in North Carolina and the nation; and, WHEREAS, secondhand smoke has been proven.. to cause cancer, heart disease, and asthma in both smokers and nonsmokers; and, WHEREAS, the 2006 Surgeon General's Report on the health consequences of involuntary exposure to tobacco smoke states that the scientific evidence indicates that there is no risk-free level of exposure to secondhand smoke. The 2006 Surgeon General's Report documents that separating smokers from nonsmokers, cleaning the air, and ventilating smoke cannot eliminate exposure to secondhand smoke; and, WHEREAS, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises that all individuals with coronary heart disease or known risk factors for coronary heart disease should avoid all indoor environments that permit smoking; and, WHEREAS, exposure to secondhand smoke is expensive, costing the nation $10 billion per year, $5 billion in direct medical care costs, and $5 billion in indirect costs according to the 2005 Society of Actuaries; and, WHEREAS, The 2006 Surgeon General's Report documents that eliminating indoor smoking fully protects nonsmokers from exposure to secondhand smoke; and, WHEREAS, Orange County provides support to employees who want to quit the use of tobacco products. These employees are also encouraged to talk to their health care provider about quitting; ask about appropriate pharmacotherapy available through the county health insurance plan or employee's insurer and use the free quitting support services of the North Carolina Tobacco Use Quitline at 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669).