Portland smoking ban

Portland could ban smoking in early 2015.

(Associated Press)

Need a light? In 2015, Portlanders might need to search a bit to find a place for a smoke break.

A citizen advisory board is recommending that Portland ban tobacco products -- including chewing tobacco and e-cigarettes -- in all city parks.

The Portland Parks Board issued the recommendation Wednesday to Commissioner Amanda Fritz after months of study. It's just a recommendation, but Fritz plans to bring the ban to the City Council in January. If approved, the ban would be implemented soon after.

Portland would then join 64 other Oregon cities -- and other cities such as San Jose, Los Angeles, New York, Chicago and Philadelphia -- in outlawing smoking in public parks.

Portland has 209 public parks.

The Oregonian first reported on the smoking ban debate earlier this year, and OPB's Think Out Loud first reported on the board's recommendation Wednesday. Fritz asked the Parks Board to consider the ban and how it would work.

Some parks, including Director Park and Pioneer Courthouse Square, already outlaw smoking. The expansion would apply not only to parks but to recreation areas and natural areas.

According to the recommendation, city golf courses and Portland International Raceway would be allowed to have designated smoking areas that would phase out after three years.

The ban would apply to tobacco in "any form," such as "bidis, cigarettes, cigars, cigarillos, kreteks, hookah pipes, chew, snuff and smokeless tobacco" as well as e-cigarettes and nicotine vaporizers and fluids.

Officials said the cost of implementing the ban hasn't been determined but that signs and enforcement costs are expected to be minimal.

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-- Andrew Theen