AVON LAKE, OHIO -- The Avon Lake City Council in Ohio on Dec. 19. passed an indoor smoking ban affecting all city property, including vehicles as well as buildings, to bring city law into compliance with the statewide indoor smoking ban passed by Ohio voters Nov. 7, according to the Morning Journal newspaper.

The law, passed unanimously, forbids 'combustion of a tobacco product' in any enclosed area owned by the city.

According to council president Greg Zilka, the city's law had to be updated to prohibit all smoking indoors and inside vehicles.

Previously, the smoking code allowed a person alone in a city vehicle, such as a Service Department truck, to smoke or for a person to smoke in a city vehicle if other passengers did not object to it. There were also provisions to allow for suspects being interviewed by the police department to smoke.

The law passed with 6,490 votes to 3,180 votes in Avon Lake, a 67 percent majority, according to the Lorain County Board of Elections.

A violation of the law would be considered a minor misdemeanor, and each day the smoker violates the law would be considered a separate offense, according to the ordinance.

Human Resources Director Tracy Aquilla said the city has posted 'No Smoking' signs around City Hall, and the city will make determinations as to how far away from the buildings employees can smoke when the regulations are finalized by the state.