VESTAVIA HILLS, Alabama --- Two business owners objected to a provision in the new Vestavia Hills smoking ordinance that bans smoking within 20 feet of an entrance or operable window of an establishment.

Dave Horn, who owns Mud Town and The Ridge, said he allows smoking on patios of his restaurants.

He said the 20-feet requirement could hurt his business.

"If people are outside within 20 feet of the door, it now puts the responsibility on me to police what's out there," Horn said. "If we thought this was an issue, we would have already taken care of it. I have a big concern about taking the choice away from a business owner to do what he thinks is best for his business."

Chris Abrams, owner of Blackwell Pub, said business owners shouldn't be in the position to "baby-sit other people."

Liberty Park resident Teri Boyd said she doesn't frequent many restaurants because they allow smoking on their patios.

With the new law, she would support restaurants like Horn's.

"I will be there on your patio. My family will be there," she said. "I have lots of friends who say the same thing. We'd love to, but we can't because there's smoking."

Vestavia Hills tonight became the fourth Jefferson County city to adopt a strict ban against smoking in all public facilities.

The city joined Birmingham, Fultondale and Midfield in prohibiting smoking in all hotels, bars, restaurants and private clubs.

The ban covers electronic cigarettes. The City Council voted 4-0 to support the ban.

The new ordinance goes into effect 30 days after publication, which should be by Aug. 16, City Clerk Rebecca Leavings said.

Individual violators of the ban will pay a $50 fine. Business owners will be charged $100 for the first offense, $200 for the second and $500 for the third and thereafter.

The council amended the non-smoking ban it passed in 2005, which allows smoking in restaurants and bars with separate ventilation systems and allows hotels to have smoking floors.

Those will not be allowed under the new law.

"We were one of the first cities to pass a non-smoking ordinance back in 2005," said Council President Mary Lee Rice. "A lot has changed since then. More scientific findings have come out. The public understands the health risks involved in smoking now. And the risk is not just to smokers but to non-smokers as well from second-hand . . . smoke."

The city included within its ordinance footnotes of studies addressing the dangers of smoking and second-hand smoke.

City Attorney Pat Boone said the city can pass such a law because it promotes the health, safety and welfare of its residents. He read the warning from a pack of Pall Mall cigarettes to illustrate his point.

"Quitting smoking now greatly reduces serious risks to your health," he said. "If you don't believe the statistics (on the dangers of cigarette smoke) just read what the tobacco companies that sell the smoke products say."