Windsor Regional Hospital officials and the Windsor Essex County Health Unit are reminding smokers about new rules that come into effect at the start of next year.
The province has mandated that all smoking be banned on hospital property as of January 1st.
It means the designated smoking areas will be eliminated and people will have to leave hospital property or face a fine.
Windsor Regional CEO David Musyj says the hope is that people will get the message and they won't have to enforce the regulation.
Windsor Regional Hospital CEO David Musyj explainaing no smoking changes (by AM800's Peter Langille)
"the security personnel already currently have roamers on the property who walk around" said Musyj, "So they'll continue to do that I don't know if it will result in an increase to it other than there will be far more communication."
Eric Nadalin, Manager of Chronic Disease and Injury Prevention at the health unit says the fine starts at $305.
Eric Nadalin, Manager of Chronic Disease and Injury Prevention at the local health unit (by AM800's Peter Langille)
"we use a progressive enforcement approach, which is the most important thing" said Nadalin, "We never set out to provide a fine to anyone without providing them with education to ensure they know what they have to do to be able to comply."
Musyj admits there will be difficulties because some smokers will cross the street where the hospital no longer has jurisdiction.
He says the point of today's news conference is to alert smokers who are at the hospital that there is a rule change at the start of next year.