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| Middletown Community News |
| Ohio Smoking Ban Getting Serious |
| Monday, December 24, 2007 11:49:04 AM - Middletown Ohio |
by Bill Rogers
Since voters in Ohio declared that smoking should no longer be allowed in public buildings, nearly 20,000 complaints have been phoned in to the Ohio Department of Health regarding 7,300 Ohio businesses which have ignored the ban and allowed patrons to smoke inside the establishment. Only 230 fines have been issued in response, due mostly to the restrictive lettering of the law that has thus far kept enforcement agencies from issuing any punishment more severe than a $100 fine. The law has been in effect for over 7 months.
Some say though, things are about to change. Enforcement of the law has been extremely lax, with most complaints resulting in no punishment, and most of those that do result in punishment turning into only warnings. Many agencies around the state plan to become more aggressive in enforcing the law after clearing some of the administrative hurdles it has to offer.
The Moose Lodge in Middletown, Ohio is the source of more complaints than any other establishment in the state. With a membership pool in the tens of thousands, the Moose #501 has been divided on the smoking ban. The Ohio Department of Health has received nearly 200 complaints regarding the lodge, almost twice as many as any other establishment in all of Ohio.
Talk about it on the MUSA Blog Forum: No Smoking in Middletown |
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Archived Comments
| 12/26/2007 3:42:53 PM | Jim Smitt | | I think some bars should be allowed to have smoking. | | 12/26/2007 3:54:54 PM | James Mullins | I agree entirely. The decision should come down to the owners of the establishment, bars and clubs especially, whether or not smoking should be allowed on their premises. If signs are clearly posted at the entrances, people who don't want to be around smokers have their choice not to visit the bars that decide to allow it.
I can see no reason why this shouldn't be the owner's choice. | | 12/26/2007 4:06:31 PM | Kerry Jones | I don't usually post to these things but when i read this I had to say something.
I think the bars and the people should decide. You got to let us smoke somewhere. Laws, laws and more laws. | | 12/27/2007 1:08:25 PM | Ron Gilbert | | I agree with Mr. Mullins. It should be the persons choice if they want to go into that establishment, I don't know of any law telling an individual you have to go to this church and not that one. Besides, if the law says we can't smoke where we want why not just BAN CIGARETTE SALES in Ohio, or is it a TAX THING. By the way, the people that voted for it was putting out more of a DEADLY GAS(by driving to the poll) than CIGARETTE SMOKE. The only difference is they couldn't see it coming out their exhaust pipe. | | 12/28/2007 1:24:18 PM | B. Proctor | BOTH SIDES OF MOUTH SENARIO: A non-smoker walks into a bar or private club, sees someone smoking, calls the HOTLINE and reports the establishment. Then proceeds to sit there for several hours and gets totally smashed on alcohol while giving the smokers a hard time telling them they should quit and how bad it is for them, etc. Then the person leaves the bar and gets into their car and drives under the influence...WHICH IS ALSO AGAINST THE LAW!
Maybe we should establish a HOTLINE for heavy drinkers leaving bars or clubs and driving. We would just report their license plates before they leave. | | 1/28/2008 1:16:35 AM | Travis | that's existed for years! (1-800-GRAB-DUI)
If you're going to whine at least have some facts straight. | | 2/9/2008 3:27:57 PM | John | Smokers are some of the most inconsiderate people I have known. They throw their butts on the ground, empty car ash trays in parking lots, and don't care about blowing smoke towards a person's face.
Smoking is a disgusting habit. People who smoke smell terrible and have bad breath. It is nice to finally go to a tavern and come home without reeking of smoke. Bars that consistently violate the ban should have their liquor license taken away.
| | 3/21/2008 7:54:52 PM | tiffany | | If everyone would stop there crying about what other people do then maybe there wouldnt be such a problem. If you dont like smoking then thats your choice and if you dont like being around it then dont go near it but dont ruin everyone elses fun! All you who complain about smoking in public an bars is really taking a huge toll on everyone Busniess. AN people who drink leave them alone thats there problem NOT YOURS! So I just wish that everyone would just keep them noses out of everyone elses affairs and stick to your OWN YOur NOT there MOM so stop trying to be! I do not smoke I do drink but only socally but i dont complain about everyone elses affairs cause its not my place to! So everyone just grow up! It wasnt a bad thing that hurt anyone in the past so why should it now! |
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