New “no smoking” rules hard to enforce

Federal housing restricts smoking
inside and within 25 feet of entrances

Jane Alberts is not looking forward to a rule change by the feds. 

The La Crosse Housing Authority director is nearly certain that a new rule restricting smoking in federally-funded housing is coming soon, and it’s not going to be an easy change.

“It’s going to be very difficult to police to monitor and, of course, residents would be asked to smoke outside, 25 feet from the entrance,” Alberts said.

Currently, residents in the Housing Authority’s nearly 800 units can smoke in their home, just not in common areas. Several housing authorities around the state have already switched to non-smoking ahead of the federal rule, which is currently in a public comment period.