Smoking on Campus Is Illegal; UAPD Is Enforcing the Law

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – It’s against the law to smoke on the University of Arkansas campus, and this year nearly 100 people have learned that the hard way. University of Arkansas Police officers have written 96 misdemeanor tickets to smokers -- students, faculty, staff members and even visitors – in 2012. Each ticket carries a possible fine of $100 to $500.

The U of A adopted a campus wide ban on all tobacco use that became campus policy in July, 2008. The state legislature followed with the Arkansas Clean Air on Campus Act, which made it illegal to smoke on the campus of any state-supported institution of higher education in Arkansas. That law went into effect in August, 2010 and that year university police primarily gave verbal warnings to smokers, and wrote only 10 tickets during fall semester. The number of tickets increased the next year – 48 were written in 2011 – and that number has doubled so far this year.

"The number of citations issued could have been more; however, we understood this would be a major adjustment for many in our community," said University Police director Steve Gahagans. "However, it has been four years since the campus policy has been in effect and two years since the law was passed. So, the chances are higher that a violator will be cited compared to the past."

The full university Smoking and Tobacco Policy may be viewed at the vice chancellor for finance and administration website.