The latest move to ban lighting up in city-owned cars has gone up in smoke.

Gaffney City Council Police Committee members, in a meeting last month, approved a recommendation to ban all smoking in city vehicles, according to committee member Tom Reid.

But Police Committee Chairman Billy Love said his committee didn't recommend a total ban on smoking, but agreed the issue should be placed on the city council agenda for discussion.

Love said Tuesday that action wasn't taken because smoking ban proponents lack the votes at this time.

"There is not enough support (for the smoking ban) to pass," he said.

Supporters of the smoking ban have argued that cigarette smoke lowers the re-sale value of the police cruisers. But Love noted the city vehicles have racked up so many miles they lack any re-sale value anyway.

The smoking ban has stirred up a mild controversy ever since the Personnel Committee's support for a total ban was reversed by full council, which allowed city employees to continue to light up in cityowned vehicles — if a passenger in the car also is a smoker.