Posted on 02/05/2007 3:59:16 AM PST by SheLion
While many tavern owners across Colorado are waiting for the courts or the Legislature to clarify the statewide smoking ban, dozens of others are less patient. They're allowing customers to smoke, hoping they will fit into a loophole in the law.
Under the smoking ban that went into effect July 1, casinos, some airport lounges and cigar bars are exempt. But many taverns that sold a lot of cigarettes before the law took effect say they qualify as cigar bars because the Colorado Indoor Air Act covers "tobacco products," rather than specifying cigars.
The law says taverns that got 5 percent or $50,000 of their revenues from the sale of tobacco products qualify as cigar bars.
State Rep. Ellen Roberts, R-Durango, has introduced a bill (House Bill 1108) to close that loophole by specifying revenues must come from the sale of cigars or cigar tobacco for a tavern to qualify as a cigar bar.
And officials expect a court ruling next week in the case of Orio's Roadhouse in Durango, which is expected to help clarify the law's exemptions.
Meanwhile, complaints have been lodged against at least 47 businesses statewide for allowing smoking, and many of those businesses are seeking cigar-bar status, said Kim Hills-Evans, executive director of the Colorado Tobacco Education and Prevention Alliance.
While Hills-Evans and other anti-smoking advocates are backing Roberts' bill, another measure would allow "mom-and-pop" bars to pay an extra $500 for their liquor licenses in return for letting patrons smoke.
Some prosecutors around Colorado have expressed frustration with the law's vagueness. Denver prosecutors have sent letters to six taverns asking for documentation that they deserve cigar-bar status, said Deputy District Attorney Dick Reeve.
"We've asked them for both documentation and their reasoning," he said. "The law doesn't specify that it has to be just cigars."
The thing that gets me is that the "smoking nazis" want everyone to quit, thus getting their way (a minority dictating to a majority). Cigarettes are a legal commodity. The government taxes cigarettes heavily, and they are the very ones that would scream bloody murder if those taxes quit flowing into their coffers.
My father was an alcoholic, and mistreated my mother and me verbally, physically and emotionally. However, I do not condemn anyone who drinks, as this is STILL a free country.
Each one of us have choices to make, FOR OURSELVES, and are responsible for the choices we make.
Thanks for the ping!
The bar owners should declare themselves a casino. Casinos are allowed to have smokers.
I see that the RINO stampede against property rights continues.
Thousands across the United States have been forced to close because of this horrible smoking ban!
Sure can't tell our damn lawmakers that! Now they are going to take fat kids away from their parents!
What IS this! America or GERMANY???????
Madame, this idiot lawmaker is right here in Maine. Remember him???
Maine: STATE SEN. KARL TURNER (R-Cumberland)(RINO) to eliminate smoking in TAVERNS, LOUNGES AND POOL HALLS! 
<-------- Typical Maine RINO!
"Most likely explanation is that there is a lag time of up to 50 years for a lifelong smoker to develop lung cancer."
But if it saves the life of just one 500-year old, isn't it worth it? /s
He's the reason I won't donate any money to the Maine Republican Party. Just in case one dime makes its way to him.
He's the reason I won't donate any money to the Maine Republican Party. Just in case one dime makes its way to him.
Don't blame you!
He is the biggest cold hearted anti-smoker in Maine. I can't even stand looking at his ugly puss.
He's a lap dog for Baldy! Even though he IS a RINO!
"Two Natural Disasters - Katrina and Baldacci".
"Two Natural Disasters - Katrina and Baldacci".
GOOD one!!!! Wish I had a picture of that. Boy, could I use it!
Hey! Did you read the letter from RINO Snowe I received today???????????? Barfsville!!
Boilerplate smoking Nazi crap from one of the biggest RINO's in the Senate.
The condescending tone's a nice touch too.
I'd vote for a toaster oven if it ran against her.
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