County health officials will look the other way for 'artistic smoking'

[The Straight Story]

Theaters get free pass from county's new smoking law

Actors will be breaking the law in Allegheny County if they smoke onstage during a performance, but county health officials said they'll look the other way.

"Technically, smoking on stage would be illegal, but we won't get in the way of artistic expression," said Guillermo Cole, spokesman for the county Health Department, which enforces the smoking ban that took effect for some public places a month ago today.

A county judge in December delayed implementation of the ban in bars and restaurants because of a lawsuit challenging its legality but upheld its enforcement in other workplaces covered by the ordinance.

...
Theater companies in other cities with smoking bans have been forced to throw out even the herbal cigarettes they use as props. But companies here applaud the department's decision to give them a break.

"If a production requires smoking, it's a good thing that we're able to do that. I think the effects on the audience will be minimal," said Veronica Corpuz, spokeswoman for the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust.

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/today/s_491423.html

I knew I would find a way around smoking bans. I am an ar-teest.!