Hearing set on Miami's tobacco ban in city cars

<br>(Miami, Oklahoma-AP) -- An arbitration hearing is Thursday on the city of Miami's ban on tobacco use in city-owned vehicles. <br><br>The Fraternal Order of Police has filed an unfair labor practices

Wednesday, November 19th 2003, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(Miami, Oklahoma-AP) -- An arbitration hearing is Thursday on the city of Miami's ban on tobacco use in city-owned vehicles.

The Fraternal Order of Police has filed an unfair labor practices complaint over the policy. The FOP says the city can't change workplace rules without negotiations.

The no-tobacco policy in city-owned cars was adopted by the Miami City Council and the city's public utilities board in December. City Attorney Erik Johnson says the city has the right to determine health and safety issues in the workplace, giving it authority to adopt the new policy.

The penalties for using tobacco in a city-owned vehicle range from a verbal warning for a first offense to termination for repeated violations.