Smokers are on the run in the Capital City for the third time in two weeks.

A week after both Bismarck hospitals announced they will be banning smoking on most of their property, the Bismarck Tobacco Free Coalition introduced a city ordinance that could squeeze all smoking from restaurants even in outdoor areas where food is served.

Now, officials at the Capitol have banned smoking in an outdoor area where most smokers have found a haven.

John Boyle, director of Facilities Management, said smoking is banned in a large area on the south side of the Capitol, which is where most visitors enter the building.

"That way they (visitors) can enter the building in at least one entrance smoke free,"Boyle said.

The decision, made by Boyle and Pam Sharp, director of the Office of Management and Budget, went into effect Monday.

OMB is authorized by state law to control, manage and maintain the Capitol building and grounds.

The no-smoking area extends from the entire south side of the Capitol to the roads leading to the building.

Boyle said eventually there will be signs put up telling people they can't smoke beyond a certain point.

The most popular smoking area used to be right outside the south entrance underneath the tunnel.

Boyle said that smoke would hang in the air there and state employees would often have to clean up cigarette butts.

"Over the past year there have been complaints and it was just something where it was time to happen,"Boyle said.

State employees were notified of the policy on Friday, but signs were posted at the south entrance on Tuesday in case some of the employees or citizens had not heard about it.

The new policy marks the second restriction on smoking at the Capitol this year.

A state law that went into effect Aug. 1 banned smoking in many public places, including a smoking room in the Capitol that has been used by legislators for several years.

According to an April 18 Associated Press story, Gov. George Sinner banned smoking in the Capitol in 1990. However, until the state law passed this year, the smoking room remained in use.

Boyle said the immediate concern was banning smoking from the entrance that most visitors use, but restrictions could be expanded in the future.

"Certainly that doesn't mean we won't address other smoking issues at the Capitol,"Boyle said.

(Reach reporter Tom Rafferty at 223-8482 or tom.rafferty@;bismarcktribune.com.)