Was the van smoking too? This city is getting crazy, what is a no smoking sign doing outside?

I believe the sign is for Baruch College, which was right behind me.

But what is the sign doing outside? You can still smoke in public, can you not? I understand that sign on a door, or other entranceway, onto the campus, but NOT on a city sidewalk.

I believe there is a law that you may not smoke within a certain about of feet from a hospital or educational facility. 50 I think. I could be wrong, though. Any corrections will be appreciated.

I checked C5 T17 of the Admin Code, and Local Law 47, neither of which mention anything about a distance restriction (50 feet, or otherwise). If someone has better information, please let me know, but I think once you are outside, you are generally safe (although the law did mention smoking being banned at some outdoor places such as outdoor dining areas, and sporting events). But a city sidewalk, even infront of a college, should be good to go!

Smoking is not allowed in outdoor dining areas roughly defined as the perimeter of the outdoor seating area, but not extending to the sidewalk used exclusively by pedestrians for sidewalk cafes. I actually had a diner complain to me about a pedestrian who was walking by a sidewalk cafe, smoking his pipe. This person was not a patron and was passing by, yet a female patron wanted me to have him put out his pipe as it bothered her.