Smoking bans legal, punishments not

The South Carolina Supreme Court has overturned the penalties for violating the smoking ban on Sullivans Island, but the justices still agree the bans are legal .
   
In the unanimous decision Monday, the justices decided while the town could ban smoking in workplaces, it couldn’t make violations a crime because smoking in the workplace isn’t against state law.   

The original law called for a $500 fine and 30 days in jail for violators.
   
Sullivans Island officials say they have since changed their law to match more than a dozen other local governments across the state who make the violation a civil penalty with a much lower fine.
   
Supporters of smoking bans say about six more have been passed since the bans were upheld five months ago.