Smoke ‘em if you got ‘em, Rio Rancho residents. Just do it at home.

The Rio Rancho Governing Body approved a new smoking ordinance Wednesday that is tougher than the state law approved last year and includes financial penalties for violators.

The 4-2 vote represents a shift from the first reading of the ordinance two weeks ago, when the city council approved the measure by a 5-0 vote. Councilor Howard Balmer, who was out of town, voted against the ordinance, and councilor Delma Petrulo changed her vote.

“The more I thought about it, I don’t want the government to define everything that citizens can do,” she said. “You can’t chew gum in Singapore anymore.”

Petrulo, a smoker, said her personal preference had nothing to do with her vote.

“It’s irrelevant,” she said. “When I was a non-smoker, I felt the same way.”

Balmer expressed similar reservations.

“To me it’s a philosophical issue. I don’t believe the government should take a legal thing like smoking and tobacco use and outlaw it,” he said. “And I don’t believe a government ought to be telling a business owner how he should operate.

“I don’t smoke. I never have. But if an establishment is a smoking establishment, a consumer goes there knowing that. An employee goes there knowing that a place has a smoking environment. If a business owner wants to have no smoking, that’s his prerogative.”

The ordinance also provides for enforcement from fire department and public safety officials. Within a 12-month period, a violator can be fined up to $100 the first time, $200 the second time and $500 the third time he or she lights up illegally.

Business operators cannot be fined provided they post appropriate warning notices and tell their customers to put out their smoking products when they enter an establishment.

Smokers and non-smokers alike will face a 6 percent increase for their trash collection if another ordinance approved by the council becomes law. The increase, which will go in effect Jan. 1, would raise residential rates to $11.58 per month. Commercial rates would go up to $18.84 a month, a 9.3 percent increase, under the ordinance under the 10-year agreement with Waste Management of New Mexico.

In other business, the council:

•Approved Leona M. Tatum for the position of alternate municipal judge.

•OK’d a budget adjustment allowing the city to receive more than $183,000 in funding from the state fire fund.

•Authorized two infrastructure contracts: One for the Black Arroyo Gravity Sewer line and one for arsenic removal at Well 10.

•Approved a joint agreement with the Southern Sandoval County Arroyo Flood Control Authority directing federal funds be reimbursed to SSCAFCA for work done for the city.

•Canceled its Dec. 26 meeting because of the holidays, something it has traditionally done. The council normally meets on the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month.

For more information about city government in Rio Rancho, go to www.ci.rio-rancho.nm.us.