Sunnyvale's new law limiting smoking goes into effect

SUNNYVALE, Calif. -- A law limiting the areas where people can smoke in Sunnyvale goes into effect Saturday, officials with the Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety said.

The updated ordinance prohibits smoking in all outdoor areas where food or drinks are consumed, within 25 feet of the doors and windows of buildings and within 25 feet of service areas such as bus stops.

The limits also prohibit smoking at public events such as farmer's markets and on South Murphy Avenue between Washington Avenue and Evelyn Avenue, public safety officials said.

Smoking is also now prohibited in all public parks as well as golf courses.

The limits extend to multi-family housing properties with two or more units. At those properties, smoking is prohibited from indoor and outdoor common areas, within 25 feet of the building's windows and doors and inside units, including shared patios and balconies.

Smoking continues to be the leading cause of preventable death in the U.S., public safety officials said. Secondhand smoke is the cause of an estimated 41,000 heart-disease-related and lung cancer deaths each year.