By ROB HOELL wpix.com

September 14, 2009
NEW YORK (WPIX)—
Starting in the beginning of October, it'll be against company policy to light up in any Avis or Budget rental car - and if you get caught you'll be hit with a $250 fine.

"I appreciate it because I'm a non-smoker," Jasmin Walter told PIX News. "The smell and dry eyes is just an awful feeling."

After being pushed out of restaurants, bars and hotels, smokers are once again being pitted against non-smokers.

"I'll suffer," said smoker Jeremy Ammon.

John Barrows of Avis says most customers request smoke free cars. He also said getting rid of that nasty tobacco smell isn't easy and extremely costly.

But driver Bernard Kelly doesn't think it's fair - saying don't take away the one pleasure he still has.

"I don't like it at all," said Kelly. "Go Hertz!"

Competitor Hertz is not planning a smoking ban. Instead the company tells PIX News it's going to start using a new odor eliminating product to remove all smokey smells.

But still most people PIX News spokes with likes the new policy.

"I always want smoke free room," said Marian Hayes. "So I want a smoke free car."

Avis and Budget will inspect cars upon return. Butts in the ashtray or a smokey smell could mean $250 tacked on to your bill.