WAGGA smokers have refrained from lighting up in alfresco dining areas across the city, complying with Wagga City Council’s new smoking bans.As of last Friday it is against the law to light up in alfresco dining areas, bus stops, playgrounds and taxi ranks under council control.No fines or problems with the new laws have been reported, with most butting it out when told of the new regulations.“It’s going alright, we’ve only had one customer who was adamant on smoking but once we mentioned to her the fine would be given to her and not us she put out her cigarette,” Café Lulaba owner Bryan Stokes said.“The only problem we have with the new laws was that it affects only some cafés and not all.“At this stage we don’t know if we’re losing business or money but our customers have been pretty good about it all and council provided us with stickers for our outside tables.”Wagga City Council ranger services co-ordinator Greg Minehan said information from staff indicated that generally people are accepting of the new rule. “Each of the shop owners affected (by the new laws) has been supplied with no smoking signage,” he said.“The only call council has received was from a café that wanted clarification on the issue of a person standing on the footpath outside the agreed area. It was identified that persons were able to stand outside and smoke, and the owner was receptive and agreeable to continue with the ban.” Rangers will continue to monitor incidents of non-compliance which to date have been only noted as numbering two, neither of which resulted in a fine.DOING THE RIGHT THING: Wagga smokers are complying with new council regulations which prohibit lighting up in alfresco dining areas, and are remaining in public areas.