WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES

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Update on ferry smoking ban

posted 12/07/05
Washington State Ferries announced yesterday, the ferries and terminals including holding lanes would be smoke free. In an updated press release, WSF staff says while smoking will be banned within 25 feet of any terminal doorway, vents, windows or walkways, Washington State Ferries is still grappling with customers smoking in vehicles in the holding areass.

"We appreciate how hard this will be on our passengers and our employees especially on the longer routes," says Director of Operations Traci Brewer-Rogstad. "But with the passage of Initiative 901, it is clear that the people of Washington want their public facilities smoke-free."

"We are going to fully implement the new law and early indications are that our customers more than welcome this," says Brewer Rogstad. "Since Monday evening, an overwhelming number of e-mail from customers - roughly 5 to 1 - support the move to implement Washington's new smoking law.

"In the effort to fully comply with the law," continues Brewer-Rogstad, "We anticipate there will be details of the program that we will be working out as we receive updated direction from the Washington Attorney General's Office. As that updated information becomes available to us, we will share it with our customers and staff.

No smoking on ferries as of Dec. 8

posted 11/18/05
Smoking cigarettes is banned on Washington State Ferries effective Dec. 8, 2005. The cost of violating the law on the upper decks is a $200 to $300 fine. Defying the ban and lighting up in a vehicle on the auto deck, is a federal crime penalized by up to a $10,000 fine.

Decisions are still to be made regarding where smoking will be allowed at the terminals. The restrictions are triggered by the passage of the anti-smoking initiative approved by voters Nov. 8, 2005.

Ferries and terminals smoke-free beginning Thursday

posted 12/06/05
Beginning this Thursday (Dec. 8), smokers who travel on board Washington State Ferries or spend time at a ferry terminal will need to find somewhere else to smoke. All ferry facilities, including both vessels and terminals, will be smoke-free.

"We appreciate how hard this will be on our passengers and our employees especially on the longer routes," says Director of Operations Traci Brewer-Rogstad. "But with the passage of Initiative 901, it is clear that the people of Washington want their public facilities smoke-free."

Instead of banning smoking within 25 feet of the terminal doorway, vents or windows, Washington State Ferries is banning smoking at the entire terminal, including holding lanes.

"There are a number of practical issues with Initiative 901. We have concern for both employees and customers being subjected to second hand smoke," said Brewer-Rogstad. "We have worked with the Attorney General's Office since November 9 regarding interpretation and application of the law. Guidance from the Attorney General's Office indicates that the only practical way for Washington State Ferries to fully comply with the new law is to implement a smoking prohibition on all vessels and on the property of all terminals.

"We hope our customers will work with us to make this implementation a success. We are asking our customers to extinguish all smoking materials before even arriving at the terminals."

Smoking on the car deck of the ferries is a federal crime with fines up to $10,000. The fines are in the hundreds of dollars for smoking on the passenger decks and at the terminals.

No smoking on ferries as of Dec. 8

posted 11/18/05
Smoking cigarettes is banned on Washington State Ferries effective Dec. 8, 2005. The cost of violating the law on the upper decks is a $200 to $300 fine. Defying the ban and lighting up in a vehicle on the auto deck, is a federal crime penalized by up to a $10,000 fine.

Decisions are still to be made regarding where smoking will be allowed at the terminals. The restrictions are triggered by the passage of the anti-smoking initiative approved by voters Nov. 8, 2005.

WSF working on smoking ban

posted 11/11/05
WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES PRESS RELEASE: With the passage of I-901, the tough new ban on smoking, Washington State Ferries is working to determine how best to implement the law on ferries and in terminals.

"We face a variety of issues," said Director of Operations Traci Brewer-Rogstad. "While it is fairly easy to eliminate smoking on vessels for the public, the terminals are a different matter."

"The ban requires nonsmoking zones of 25-feet near any public doorway, open window or ventilation system," said Brewer-Rogstad. "Twenty-five feet at some locations either has our customers swimming in Puget Sound or blocking walkways. There are too many points of access at some terminals."

Washington State Ferries is working with the Attorney General's office to determine the intent of the law, which will help the agency plan their implementation.

"Washington State Ferries wants to implement this change but we want to do it right," said Brewer-Rogstad. "Most of our customers are very enthusiastic about the new ban. However, we are aware of the adjustment some customers on our longer ferry routes will have to make and we want to give them as much notice before implementation as possible."

WSF promises to keep customers informed as the agency determines the best way to implement the smoking ban.

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