City Council hears first reading of smoking ban for MUSC, Roper - WCIV-TV | ABC News 4 - Charleston News, Sports, Weather

City Council hears first reading of smoking ban for area around MUSC, Roper

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCIV) -- A smoking ordinance is up for first reading at Tuesday night's Charleston City Council meeting. 

Both the Medical University of South Carolina and Roper Hospital complexes are smoke-free campuses. The ordinance would expand the no-smoking zone to include the surrounding streets. 

"The fact that many of their patients that are ill oftentimes, on the sidewalks or adjacent to the hospitals are walking through clouds of smoke. And many have respiratory diseases. The idea was that we should make the surrounds of the Medical University and hospital complex smoke free as well," said Mayor Joe Riley. 

If the ordinance eventually passes, MUSC public safety officials would be responsible for enforcing the smoking ban.