Posted on 12/24/2007 6:40:14 AM PST by mmichaels1970
DAYTON, Ohio -- Tens of thousands of complaints about violations of Ohio's new smoking ban -- many from the same few businesses -- have resulted in just hundreds of fines, leading county heath departments to say they plan to step up enforcement of the law.
Fines for violating the ban, which outlaws indoor smoking in most public places, are about to get bigger and more frequent for delinquent business owners, health officials warned. The ban was approved by Ohio voters in November 2006.
Local health departments began enforcing the law on May 3, and have since logged more than 19,000 violations, or about 100 a day, on 7,300 establishments. Of those violations, only about 230 fines were issued, according to Ohio Department of Health data from the first seven months of enforcement.
The law calls for a graduated series of punishments: After an initial warning, a second violation is $100, growing to $2,500 for fifth and subsequent violations. But that could soon change.
In Montgomery County, where almost 1,300 complaints have resulted in only 58 warnings and 10 fines, officials said they've cleared administrative hurdles and are ready to issue big fines.
"It's going to be our strategy to double the second fine," said Alan Pierce, a supervisor of general services at Public Health Dayton and Montgomery County. "So instead of $500, we can go for $1,000."
Private clubs are among the state's worst offenders, according to a Dayton Daily News analysis of the state smoking complaint data. Of the top 10 targets of smoking complaints in the state, eight are private clubs. And members of the Moose and Eagles lodges, Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion and Amvets call in nearly a quarter of all smoking ban violation complaints.
(Excerpt) Read more at newsnet5.com ...
Funny to hear them wonder on the radio about why Cleveland is dying.
Hear! Hear! Thank you for your service! God bless and Merry Christmas to you and yours. I ran into an official in Florida who oversees business regulation here on FR in an article about smoking bans several months ago, who said he/she was proud to vote against smoking bans time after time. I posted what you said about losing a little freedom with every law that is passed. He/she wanted me to take it back and couldn’t grasp this. This is who is elected? (Shaking my head.)
Yes, Cleveland is dying. I wish hubby and I didn’t have to go downtown to work every day. My hubby keeps the rabid transit running for everyone here in town, which is an extremely, extremely stressful job with many, many hours of O/T. He likes to relax every few months by enjoying a cigar. The people of Cleveland, for his service, have told him that he cannot do that.
Some are pretty nasty comments. They got 100% of what they wanted and they’re still complaining like children. God help us.
Some people just don’t get it.
Interestingly enough, when the subject of going smoke free comes up in our Lodge, the most vocal opponents tend to be the non-smokers.
Merry Christmas to you as well my friend.
Yup, and the worst part is that so many of our fellow citizens vote these type laws into effect.
I have come to the conclusion that a majority of americans want to be led by the nose, and have their butts wiped by mommy and daddy govt.
Your lodge would probably survive, because it is so rural.
Our legion hall would go bust.
AWESOME!! Thanks for giving my wife and I a good laugh just as our kids start getting out of bed.
I used to believe that the anti-smokers were basically well-intended people who didn’t see the dangers of govt oppression of personal beahvior.
No longer.
After reading feedback and articles from anti-smokers I’ve come to believe that they are without exception hateful little would-be tyrants. Those of us who actually believe in freedom who aren’t abject cowards were foolish to ever cave in to these people and history will prove that going to full blown civil war over this issue would have been justified.
The anti-smokers are the sort of people who look through their shades into their neighbors’ homes with binoculars. They are the people who marched down the strasses with the words “Heil Hitler” on their lips. Don’t believe all their complex excuses for their totalitarian beliefs. They are dangerous people... the sort who practice tyranny over everyone who makes them feel nervous. They hate freedom. They love oppressing their neighbors all the while spewing their self-righteous claptrap.
They should be recognized as what they are. Enemies. Without exception. They are murdering freedom with thunderous applause.
Nanny uber alles
If the opposition disarms, well and good. If it refuses to disarm, we shall disarm it ourselves.
Joseph Stalin
Your husband can’t smoke a cigar in his own home?????? Now that IS going too far!
What we refer to as Common Sense really isn't all that common. I think we need a new name for it.
HOME is the ONLY PLACE in this ENTIRE STATE where one can smoke. My apologies for not making that clear. Merry Christmas.
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