ayor Michael R. Bloomberg's ban on smoking in all public places save New York's streets has landed uncomfortably at 4 Times Square, the headquarters of Condé Nast Publications and one of the more privileged addresses in the city.

In the corner office of Vanity Fair, on the 22nd floor, sits Graydon Carter. He is editor of the magazine and a liberal with libertarian tendencies who enjoys an occasional Camel. Although he keeps his door closed, someone at the magazine - no one knows who - called the city's health department more than once this fall. City inspectors visited Vanity Fair in September, October and November, and issued citations each time, said Sandra Mullin, communications director at the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. She did not know the amounts of the fines, but they could range from $200 to $2000 for repeat violations, she said.

She said no one was seen smoking when the inspectors made their unannounced visits, but that the presence of ashtrays and the absence of no-smoking signs represented a violation of the ban. The prohibition, which was instituted citywide in April, makes smoking in an office against the law. Furthermore, 4 Times Square was a nonsmoking building to begin with. But in the gossamer world of magazine publishing, rules are fungible, and Mr. Carter, who rarely leaves the building for lunch, was always more than happy to share a cigarette with visitors. But with the seemingly constant new vigilance from the city, even Mr. Carter's corner on prerogative will not suffice.

Beth Kseniak, a spokeswoman for Vanity Fair, would say only, "We are a no-smoking building, and we have instructed the staff to adhere to the rules." That would presumably include Mr. Carter, who did not want to discuss the matter on the telephone.

But he sent an e-mail message. "I find Mayor Bloomberg's smoking laws to be nothing short of asinine and their enforcement to be nothing short of harassment," he wrote. DAVID CARR

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