The details
There are four amendments to the airport’s Code of Rules and Regulations, including changes to the airport’s smoking policy.
Tomme said changes to the smoking policy were necessary because the previous smoking policy is difficult to enforce, which results in people smoking in places they shouldn’t.
Under the new amendment, Tomme said the airport CEO will be allowed to designate areas via signage where individuals can and cannot smoke and make violations a code offense.
The amendments will also address First Amendment issues, Tomme said, more clearly defining rules related to applications to distribute literature, survey and picketing.
“The Supreme Court says that under the First Amendment we have to make reasonable accommodations for those that want to picket or solicit or do any sort of First Amendment expression,” Tomme said during the meeting. “We get so many of these applications that we thought it would be wise to put into the code a lot of the rules that we impose and are allowed to impose under the rules.”
Additionally, the changes will address commercial photography licenses, which will add grounds to deny filming requests based on safety, security or operational concerns. Tomme said the new code will include a list of filming prohibitions.
The final changes include adding streets to the code, which is required to enforce speed limits.
Looking ahead
Fort Worth City Council will vote to approve the amendments in the Sept. 17 council meeting. The amendments must also be approved by Dallas City Council.
