Colorado Clean Indoor Air Act

www.smokefreecolorado.org              

Weld County Tobacco Program:  970-304-6420

Colorado Clean Indoor Air Act

Overview of the lawThe law goes into effect Saturday, July 1, 2006.  The purpose of the act is to preserve and improve the health, comfort, and environment of Colorado residents by limiting exposure to tobacco smoke. This law requires most indoor areas to be Smoke-Free.

Including but not limited to:

  • Public places and buildings such as elevators, restrooms, theaters, museums, libraries, schools, educational institutions, retirement facilities and nursing homes
  • Any place of employment that is not exempted
  • Restaurants, bars, limited gaming facilities, billiard or pool halls, bowling alleys, grocery stores, and any food service establishment, Indoor sports arenas, auditoriums
  • Health care facilities, health care clinics, doctor’s offices, and child day care facilities
  • No less than 75% of hotel or motel sleeping quarters rented to guests
  • Jury waiting and deliberation rooms, courtrooms, and public meetings
  • Government-owned mass transportation of any kind

Entryway

  • Main entryways of establishments covered by this law must be smoke-free.
  • The specified radius shall be determined by the local authority or, if the local authority has not acted, the specified radius shall be 15 feet.

Exemptions

  • Private homes, residences, and automobiles unless being used for child care or day care; limousines under private hire
  • Up to 25% of rented hotel or motel rooms
  • Retail tobacco businesses; the retail floor plan of casinos
  • A “cigar-tobacco bar,? meeting the “definition? as of December 31, 2005
  • The outdoor area of any business, excluding signed areas and entryways as described
  • Enclosed, independently ventilated airport smoking concessions at DIA
  • Employers with three or fewer employees who do not allow access to the public
  • A private, non-residential building on a farm or ranch that has an annual gross income of less than $500,000

Penalties and Enforcement

  • The law will be enforced by local law enforcement; Violation is a Class 2 Petty Offense.
  • It is unlawful for a person who owns, manages, operates, or otherwise controls the use of premises subject to this law to violate any provisions of this law.
  • It is unlawful for a person to smoke in an area where smoking is prohibited by this law.
  • 1st violation within a calendar year - $200 fine, 2nd $300, 3rd $500
  • Each day of a continuing violation shall be deemed a separate violation.

For a copy of the law, go to: www.smokefreecoIorado.org 
With any other questions or inquiries call 1-888-701-2006  
For information about Quitting Tobacco and FREE Patches call 1-800-QUIT-NOW