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 ...
We go every fall for 10 days to weeks for a special event. Last year the smoking ban was all over the news, this year it was a reality. Casinos only,now maybe if the bar is in the casino, I don’t know about that.
There are no perogies on the menu, but I will be meeting my husband and friends in a similar place a bit later this afternoon........in Virginia.
We will be wishing all a Merry Christmas and thanking our lucky stars we made it through another year of beating back the fascists and start gearing ourselves up for the fight that will inevitably recur in the legislature come January.
Do you go for a rodeo event? Did we speak about that before?
Yes it is the PBR Finals (Professional Bull Riding).
:0)
Well, I thought so. Hello, again, and Merry Christmas to you. Hope you had a blast at the rodeo.
Since Big Brother decided it was.
Well, I’m going to my brother’s house for dinner (he lives one township over), so I am going to leave and get ready now. MERRY CHRISTMAS and God bless us all. :-) Enjoy your time with family and friends.
Enjoy!
Merry Christmas, everyone.
I hope your hubby had a blast riding those bulls and did well. :-)
Fortunately there are a few places in Cleveland where it is still possible to smoke cigars against the will of the smoke nazis. The place I smoke cigars will continue to allow it until they get a warning.
I heard that there is an attempt by Columbus area bar owners to get support for another law on the books. I don;t know if that is true or if they’ll get the support they need.
I see this sign everywhere when I visit my parents in Ohio. It's the first thing you see on the door when you go to mass, even. It's the most nazi-ish sign I've ever seen a state government produce.
"Postmaster walks throughout the post office smoking and asks employees if the smoke bothers them. Employees smoke in postal vehicles, outside entranceways to building, and ashtrays are put by doors to the post office. I feel retaliated against because the smoke bothers me and intimidated by the Postmaster's position of power and authority."
It’s time to go on the offensive...
There is no penalty for filing a false complaint (to protect the smoke nazis for false alarms)...
So lets put the screws to them...
Get a phone book and complain about every single bussiness...
Call several times a day with complaints about drivers in city vehicles, county vehicles, and local Govt office...
BURY them in complaints...
My first complaint will be about Santa...I’ve seen pictures of him smoking pipes...and he produces item for consumption by the public...
I say we teach them the definition of being “freeped”....
Merry Christmass one and all...
>>Since when is a Private club, a public place?<<
That is my concern about this...
Basically, if you do it in private and don’t hurt anyone else, you ought to be able to harm yourself, alone or in groups.
Right to assemble???
Where in the constitution does it give the government, fed, state, or local, to ban any legal activity on private property? Or on public property for that matter.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.