WHEAT RIDGE, Colo. -- The city of Wheat Ridge is considering instituting the toughest smoking ban in the state of Colorado.

A proposed city council ordinance would prohibit all public smoking. Smokers could be fined from $25-$1,000 and potentially face up to one year in jail for lighting up on public sidewalks, in parks or at bus or light rail stations.

The restrictions were proposed last fall by the Tobacco Prevention Initiative, an arm of the Jefferson County Public Health Department.

Along with cracking down on public smoking, the ban would close a loophole that allows smoking in hookah bars, cigar bars and other smoking lounges and shut down all designated smoking areas. Smoking would also be banned in parking lots. Anyone smoking on private property would have to do it 25 feet from an entryway, instead of the current 15 feet.

“This is truly about protecting public health,” said Wheat Ridge city council member Karen Berry. “Secondhand smoke, even in outdoor places or in other public places, impacts a person’s health.”

But Wheat Ridge mayor Jerry DiTullio said the ordinance goes too far and promised to veto it.

“I believe it’s way too draconian for our city,” said DiTullio.

DiTullio worried the measure would force police officers to focus on petty smoking offenses and unfairly criminalize smokers. DiTullio said the measure could potentially drive business out of Wheat Ridge.

“It’s anti-consumer, anti-business and anti-diversity,” said DiTullio.

But Berry said a city of Arvada law prohibiting smoking in parks, trails and golf courses does not appear to have affected revenue.

Berry said there is some support for the measure on the city council, though it’s unclear if there is enough to override a video. Garnering public support could also be tough.

Wheat Ridge residents, both smokers and non-smokers alike, said the proposal was overkill.

“That’s taking away my rights, my freedom,” said smoker Arnold Valdez.

“I’m not even a smoker and I think it’s a joke,” said Adam Weinzapfel, who works in Wheat Ridge.

The city council has not set a timeline on when the measure will be voted on or implemented. The council will, at some point, take public comment on the measure.

Berry said even if the full ordinance does not pass, she would be content to ban smoking at bus and light rail stations and force smokers to light up further away from buildings.

DiTullio said he does support one aspect of the ordinance, which would attempt to reduce young peoples’ access to tobacco.