A new year. A new law. Effective today, smokers are banned from lighting up in most public places in Washington DC .Restaurants, bars, and indoor workplaces are now considered smoke-free in the District. The new law takes full effect today -- January 2, 2007.
More than half of the nation's population now lives in areas where smoking is banned in public places, according to the American Nonsmokers' Rights Foundation.
In 2006 alone, nine statewide bans were adopted by lawmakers. In total, 22 states have passed smoking bans. And 16 states have passed laws banning smoking in bars.
In addition to Washington DC, smoking bans also go into effect today in Bloomington and Normal, Illinois.
