Ohio city passes smoking ban

NORTH ROYALTON, Ohio, April 16 (UPI) -- Residents of North Royalton, Ohio, are getting some fresh air as smoking has been outlawed in many parts of the city, residents and officials say.

North Royalton approved a ban for smoking in many public locations, including fields, parks, seating areas and parking lots, WEWS-TV, Cleveland reported.

"We just don't like the cigarette butts laying all over the ground, the little kids walking on it. And smoking and throwing your butts all over the place, so we're kind of happy about it," resident Terry Nameth Thomas said.

City officials said the smoking ban is in place to reduce second hand smoke exposure in public places.

The new law reportedly does not bar smokers from lighting up on city sidewalks.