Members of the Belmont, Calif., City Council have voted unanimously to draft an ordinance banning smoking everywhere in the city except in single-family detached homes, the San Mateo Daily Journal reported Nov. 21.

The law would include prohibitions on smoking on city streets, in parks, and in private cars. Offenders could be ticketed by police.

"We have a tremendous opportunity here. We need to pass as stringent a law as we can, I would like to make it illegal," said Councilman Dave Warden. "What if every city did this, image how many lives would be saved? If we can do one little thing here at this level it will matter."

Council members cited evidence about the dangers of secondhand smoke in announcing the ban. However, Councilman Warren Lieberman expressed concern about the city passing a law that would only be enforced if residents call to complain to police. "It makes us hypocrites by saying you know you can break the law if no one is watching," he said.

If adopted, the law would give Belmont the strictest antismoking policy in the U.S.