After years of hard work, supporters of the statewide smoking ban had good reason to do a little celebrating on Wednesday, hours before the new law goes into effect.

"We are today on the eve of putting away a killer in Pennsylvania," Secretary of Health Calvin Johnson, M.D. told the crowd that gathered in the rotunda of the State Capitol.

The goal of the ban is to eliminate second-hand smoke in 95% of the work places and public spaces in Pennsylvania.

"It is killing 2,155 people every year in Pennsylvania," said Deb Brown of the American Lung Association.  "That is six people a day."

The Pennsylvania Department of Health is responsible for implementing and enforcing the ban.  The state is counting on business owners and the public to help out by reporting any offenders.

The Department has a complaint form on its website.  A warning comes first, to be followed by a fine of up to a $1,000 for repeat violations. 

"We're not looking to really enforce the financial penalties until we have demonstrated a pattern of non-compliance, a pattern of repeated complaints," said Health Department official Leslie Best.

There are a number of exceptions to the ban, including part of a casino's gaming floor and taverns with annual food sales less than 20 percent.

The primary sponsor of the new law, Sen. Stewart Greenleaf, R-Montgomery County (web|news), is now pushing for a total ban with no exceptions.

"It's going to take a lot less time to do it because in every state and nation that has done this smokers and non-smokers say, what was the big deal?" he said.

Greenleaf plans to introduce the legislation in January.

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